By Donna Hales
An investigation revealed a Muskogee woman indicted Wednesday fraudulently received in excess of $50,000 while attending Northeastern State University in 2007, U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling said.
A Muskogee man and two Tahlequah residents also were indicted by the federal grand jury meeting here.
Emily Mae Crank, 32, of Muskogee was charged with illegally receiving financial aid while attending NSU. She fraudulently obtained personal information belonging to students and faculty, the indictment alleges.
Crank compromised NSU’s online computer system in 2007 to obtain the information to assume the identities of three victims, the indictment states. She obtained money through the Federal Pell Grant Program. That program is to assist eligible, needy students, Sperling said.
An investigation revealed Crank used several avenues to receive in excess of $50,000, he said.
Financial aid fraud is punishable by not more than five years imprisonment, a fine of not more than $20,000, or both. Unlawful use of a means of identification is punishable by not more than 15 years imprisonment and three years supervised release, Sperling said.
Crank is accused in three counts.
Others indicted:
• Ronald Keith Irving, 36, of Muskogee and Deandre Washington, 23, of Tulsa. The indictment alleges on Aug. 25, 2008, in Muskogee County that Irving knowingly possessed with intent to distribute in excess of 5 grams of crack cocaine.
Irving and Washington allegedly attempted to kill a witness (Muskogee Police Lt. Bryan Stark) by conspiring to shoot Stark with the intent to prevent his testimony in federal court proceedings against Irving.
The cocaine charge is punishable by not less than five years nor more than 40 years in prison, a fine up to $2 million and four years supervised release, Sperling said.
Tampering with a witness is punishable by not more than 30 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and five years supervised release, Sperling said.
• Johnny Wayne Blair, 21, of Tahlequah. Possession of a stolen 9mm semi-automatic pistol that had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. He knew or had reasonable cause to believe the firearm was stolen, Sperling said. The charges are punishable by not more than 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years supervised release, Sperling said.
• Rodolfo Sanabria Sanchez, 44, of Tahlequah. Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
He faces punishment of not more than 10 years in prison, a $4 million fine and five years supervised release, Sperling said.
• Wayne Laverne Powell, 39, of Bixby. Making false material statements while employed as a law enforcement officer with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. He is charged with falsifying time sheets to indicate he was on active military duty with the Oklahoma National Guard while he was not on military duty.
Powell made a false material statement also that he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Excelsior College and received an increase in annual salary because of that false representation. He faces up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines for each count, Sperling said.
• Giovanni Martinez, 29, of Durant. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and felon in possession of a firearm.
• William Penn Little, 26, of Ardmore. Scheming to defraud and obtain money from a financial institution by fraudulent pretenses.
• Richard Alberto Garza, 60, of Thackerville and Brandy Lee Glidewell, 46, of Ratliff City. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and possessing with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.
• Ronny Wayne Mantzke, 32, of Healdton. Possession of listed chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and felon in possession of a firearm.
Reach Donna Hales at 684-2923 or dhales @muskogeephoenix.com.
