Two Executives Indicted For Theft From An Oklahoma Tribe’s Businesses

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Oklahoma returned a twelve-count indictment last Wednesday afternoon charging two individuals in connection with the theft and embezzlement of funds from business entities wholly owned by the Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town (AQTT) of Wetumka, Oklahoma.

The AQTT is a tribal town located in Oklahoma with an enrollment of around 280 members. As a component of the original Creek Confederacy, AQTT’s members have dual citizenship with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The AQTT-owned business entities focus primarily on federal contract procurement in Huntsville, Alabama.

Charged in the indictment are AARON DEWAYNE TERRY, age 66, of Wichita Falls, Texas, and CHRISTINA ROCHELLE ANGLIN, age 44, of Burnsville, North Carolina.

The defendants are charged with the following counts in the indictment:  Counts One through Eight – THEFT BY AN AGENT OF AN INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A);  Count Nine – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT THEFT OR BRIBERY OF PROGRAMS RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371;  Count Ten – WIRE FRAUD, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343;  Count Eleven – CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349; and  Count Twelve - BRIBERY CONCERNING PROGRAMS RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDS, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(B).

During the time of the conspiracy, from 2012 to 2019, CHRISTINA ROCHELLE ANGLIN was the Controller, and later the Chief Financial Officer, for all the AQTT-owned business entities. AARON DEWAYNE TERRY, likewise, held various executive management and control positions within the AQTT-owned business entities during this period.

Counts One through Eight, and Count Twelve, each carry a statutory range of punishment of not more than ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00. The statutory range of punishment for Count Nine is not more than 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00. Counts Ten and Eleven each carry a statutory range of punishment of not more than 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

Agencies responsible for the multi-year investigation, which led to the indictment, include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Office of Inspector General – General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General – Small Business Administration, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Indictments are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.