Laura Virginia Howard, a 76-year-old resident of Muskogee, Oklahoma, has pleaded guilty to theft of public monies. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma confirmed that Howard entered a guilty plea to a one-count felony information charge. This offense is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
According to the Information, between February 28, 2007, and June 26, 2024, Howard embezzled funds exceeding $1,000 from the United States and the Social Security Administration. These funds were paid to a retirement claimant and were not entitled to her.
The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration—Office of the Inspector General. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson accepted Howard’s plea in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. A presentence investigation report has been ordered.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine Howard’s sentence after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Satter, Kara Traster, and Jonathan Soverly represented the prosecution.
