Former tribal gaming manager sentenced for multimillion-dollar theft and federal tax fraud

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Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Former tribal gaming manager sentenced for multimillion-dollar theft and federal tax fraud

A former supervisor for a tribal gaming firm has been sentenced after pleading guilt to theft and tax fraud.

36-year-old Michael Anthony Houser has been sentenced to a complete of 106 months in jail for one depend of theft regarding packages receiving federal funds and one depend of tax fraud. As well as, he should pay $17,337,949.50 in restitution to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and $8,205,834.00 in restitution to the Inner Income Service.

Houser pled responsible to the costs levelled by the US Lawyer’s Workplace for the Jap District of Oklahoma on February 20, 2025. An investigation by the FBI has revealed that the Oklahoma resident embezzled and obtained fraud property whereas working as a supervisor for the Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises.

“I’m pleased with the work performed by our particular brokers on this case to make sure that justice was dropped at the Muscogee (Creek) Nation,” stated Particular Agent in Cost Kyle Smith on the Oklahoma Discipline Workplace. “The US Secret Service at its origin was created to establish, monitor and produce to justice those that search to defraud.

“Defending our communities right here in Oklahoma is a mission we take very severely, and I’m grateful for the sturdy partnership we share with the Inner Income Service Legal Investigation as we work collectively to deliver fraudsters to justice.”

From theft to tax fraud

In doing so, Houser went on to embezzle $24,907,436.07 between July 2016 and February 2024, made up of funds owned by and beneath the management of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and its companies, all of that are program that had been receiving federal funds. This led to the theft cost.

As well as, Houser didn’t disclose the stolen funds as taxable revenue, resulting in the second cost of tax fraud. Within the 2022 tax 12 months, Houser didn’t report $7,851,027,28 in revenue, together with his fraudulent tax filings amounting to $8,205,834.00.

“Stealing from the neighborhood you might be entrusted to serve is a severe betrayal,” stated Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Particular Agent in Cost on the IRS Legal Investigation Dallas Discipline Workplace. “Mr. Houser’s crimes harmed the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and undermined belief in public and tribal establishments.

“By stealing from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and falsifying his tax return, Mr. Houser not solely defrauded his employer but additionally the American public. The men and women of IRS-CI are proud to have labored alongside the U.S. Secret Service and the US Lawyer’s Workplace for the Jap District of Oklahoma to uncover this fraud and maintain Mr Houser accountable for his crimes.”

Being cash-based enterprise, tribal playing firms have fashioned the backdrop of tax fraud earlier than, as with this case with the Mashpee tribe.

Featured picture: Wikimedia Commons, licensed beneath CC BY 2.5

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