MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rebecca Deanne Morehead, age 55, of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for one count of Theft or Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. The Court also ordered Morehead to pay $178,758.16 in restitution.

The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Education - Office of Inspector General (OIG).

On November 21, 2024, Morehead pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, between June of 2019 and October 26, 2021, while serving as the Encumbrance Clerk and Activities Coordinator for the Hulbert Public School District, Morehead issued herself payroll and miscellaneous payments to in excess of her contracted and authorized salary with no legitimate purpose. Morehead issued these payments with the assistance of then-Treasurer Leslie Shannon Mack. Together, their combined actions resulted in an ultimate loss to the Hulbert Public School District exceeding a half million dollars. On December 11, 2024, Mack was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison and ordered to pay $372,808.09 in restitution.

"I'm proud of the work of OIG Special Agents and our law enforcement partners for holding Ms. Morehead accountable for her criminal actions," said John Woolley, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Central Regional Office. "This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone who intentionally steals or misappropriates Federal education funds: you will be caught and held accountable for your unlawful actions."

"The OSBI appreciates the great work conducted by the United States Department of Education, as well as our local law enforcement partners, who assisted us throughout this investigation. Protecting our school districts against these type of crimes is critical across all of Oklahoma. We want to thank everyone who stepped up and helped obtain justice in this case," said Hunter McKee, Public Information Manager with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

"The defendants' misappropriation of public funding stole opportunity out of the pockets of students and families of the Hulbert Public School District," said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. "This sentence and restitution stand as a warning that crimes against the public trust will be investigated and prosecuted."

The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Morehead will self-report on March 13, 2026, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara Traster and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.