Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Stealing Social Security Funds

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Laura Virginia Howard, age 76, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count Felony Information of Theft of Public Monies, punishable by up to ten years in prison, and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Information alleged that between February 28, 2007, and June 26, 2024, Howard willfully and knowingly embezzled, stole, and converted for her own use and the use of others, money and things of value exceeding $1,000.00 of the United States and the Social Security Administration paid to a retirement claimant, to which Howard knew she was not entitled.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Social Security Administration—Office of the Inspector General.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Satter, Kara Traster, and Jonathan Soverly represented the United States.