EUFAULA, Oklahoma — Three officials of the Eufaula Indian Community have been charged by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Attorney General’s Office on complaints of theft.
According to MCN District Court criminal complaints filed July 17, EIC CEO Judd Pickering, Treasurer Twanna Susie Deere and office manager Lydia Anglin are charged with theft of the ‘Nation’s Funds, Program Income or other Federal Funds.’
The complaints allege Pickering stole $42,517 from community center funds; Anglin, $13,631; and Deere, $6,350.
Following the complaints, Principal Chief Floyd signed an executive order July 17. According to the order, EIC failed to submit a required audit for fiscal year 2017; and that it ‘engaged in improper and corrupt financial transactions.’
An official statement from Floyd’s office said a community member noticed ‘inconsistencies in the finance reports’ and disclosed the information to MCN.
The crimes the officials allegedly committed are punishable by three-year imprisonment and fines not to exceed $15,000, according to the complaints.
The complaints state Pickering ‘did commit crimes within the jurisdiction of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, between on or about the 5th of May, 2016 to on or about the 21st of May 2018.’
July 16, a day prior to the complaints release, a post was made to Pickering’s Facebook, which said, ‘after much consideration and thought, I have decided to pursue some personal opportunities.’
Anglin allegedly committed crimes ‘on or about the 1st of August, 2016 to on or about the 21st day of May 2018.’
Deere is charged with committing the offenses ‘between on or about the 1st of October, 2016, to on or about the 21st of October, 2018,’ according to the court documents.
According to On Demand Court Records, a Twanna S. Deere has two counts of bogus check offenses, one in Okmulgee County in 1992 and one in McIntosh County in 1996. ODCR also has record of a Twanna S. Deere with multiple tax warrant offenses, one of which was in Okmulgee County in 2003 for over $10,000.
Pickering’s bond was set at $10,000, and Deere and Anglin’s were set at $5,000.
According to the Okmulgee County Jail, Anglin and Deere were brought in by Lighthorse Tribal Police Department July 17 and released that same day; Pickering allegedly surrendered himself to authorities July 19 and was taken to the Okmulgee County Jail by LTPD. He was released July 19.
LTPD said they are not a part of the investigation and the MCN Attorney General’s Office is the sole investigator. They said the only involvement they had was serving the warrants.
LTPD did not provide any arrest reports at press time July 24.
Mvskoke Media reached out to the MCN Attorney General’s Office, but they did not provide any information.
Floyd’s executive order resolved that ‘effective immediately’ the EIC charter was revoked and it confiscated all financial assets and turned them over to the Nation. It removed any control by the EIC Board of Directors.
The order designated MCN Community Research and Development Department as acting director and in control of daily operations.
The Elderly Nutrition Center, which is on the community center property, is still in operation, as is the EIC Smoke Shop. The staff at the nutrition center had no comment.
The Proclamation is to remain in effect ‘until further notice.’
The executive order is posted on the entrance to the Community Center, and an EIC employee said the locks to the building have been changed.
Mvskoke Media reached out to Jon Tiger, vice-chairman of the EIC, who said, “No comment, because we are no longer a community.”