Priscilla Orange, 67, of Oklahoma City, has been found guilty of obstructing a federal audit and two counts of federal program theft. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Orange owned Rainbow Connection Child Care & Learning Center, which operated multiple locations in the Western District of Oklahoma. According to evidence presented at trial, the Oklahoma Department of Education began an audit in 2021 into reimbursements that Rainbow Connection received from the Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This program, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides funding for meals and snacks for low-income children at childcare centers.
Since 2013, Rainbow Connection participated in CACFP and received about $1.56 million through the program. The audit aimed to confirm whether Orange had actually served as many meals and snacks as she claimed each month for reimbursement purposes. Testimony during the trial showed that Orange tried to interfere with the audit by submitting false food-related expenses to state officials.
The trial also revealed that Orange applied for and obtained nearly $500,000 in childcare stabilization grants (CCSGs), which were provided by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and intended for approved business expenses at childcare centers. Evidence indicated that Orange used business accounts from Rainbow Connection to gamble at local casinos and diverted large sums for personal use.
At sentencing, Orange could face up to 25 years in federal prison and fines totaling $750,000.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys D.H. Dilbeck and Jackson D. Eldridge are prosecuting the case.
“This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” said officials involved in the prosecution.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
