Muskogee Woman Sentenced To 60 Months Probation, $133,000 Restitution For Theft From Organization Receiving Federal Funds

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brandi Ledawn Dunback, age 43, of Muskogee, Oklahoma was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $133,167.91 for Theft From Organization Receiving Federal Program Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A). 

The Information alleged that from on or about July 9, 2015, until on or about November 9, 2018, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the defendant, being an agent, employee, and officer of Indian Capital Technology Center, an agency of a State government, which received in excess of $10,000 in federal benefits in each one year period from 2015 through 2018, stole, obtained by fraud, and without authority knowingly converted to the use of a person not the rightful owner, property of a value of $5,000 or more, owned by, under the care of, and under the control of Indian Capital Technology Center. 

The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the United States Secret Service.

United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “Theft from a government funded agency is theft from the American people. The thorough and professional investigation by the Muskogee Police Department and the United States Secret Service allowed members of this office to bring the defendant to justice. Her sentence will result in funds being returned to the Indian Capital Technology Center and used for the public good.” 

“The United States Secret Service aggressively investigates allegations of fraud related to Federal Benefit Programs such as Small Business Relief and Unemployment Compensation as well as many others,” said Glenn Dennis, Special Agent in Charge of the Oklahoma City U.S. Secret Service Field Office. “When a person defrauds a benefit program they victimize us all as American tax payers and divert critical funds from those truly in need. The Secret Service Oklahoma City Field Office partnered with the Muskogee Police Department Investigators to successfully bring the defendant in this case to justice.” 

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. First Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Wilson represented the United States.