Former Executive Director of Canadian County Charity for Children Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma –TRACI LORRE OWENS, 47, of Edmond, Oklahoma, today entered a guilty plea to embezzlement from a Canadian County charity for child crime victims, announced Mark A. Yancey, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. 

 According to the superseding information, Owens was the Interim Executive Director and then the Executive Director of Canadian County Court Appointed Special Advocates ("CASA") from about November 2010 until July 2013.  Canadian County CASA is an organization that received at least $10,000 in federal monetary assistance annually from the United States Department of Justice to support child victims of crime.  Owens was charged with making and depositing checks payable to herself and to cash, including duplicate payroll checks.  Owens pleaded guilty to embezzling and stealing money from Canadian County CASA.

At sentencing, Owens faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory restitution.  The United States also seeks forfeiture from Owens.  Sentencing will take place in approximately 90 days.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. McKenzie Anderson and Scott E. Williams.

Reference is made to court filings for further information.