Former College Bursar Pleads Guilty to Committing Wire Fraud in Embezzlement Scheme
Agrees to Repay Over $398,000 in Restitution to College under Plea Agreement

OKLAHOMA CITY—Today, Brandi J. Henson, 49, of Yukon, Oklahoma, pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to embezzle nearly $400,000 from Oklahoma City Community College, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Henson worked as the bursar at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) from 2003 through 2011. As bursar, she had access to the college’s PayPal account. PayPal allows users to maintain financial accounts for the purpose of transferring money over the Internet. In her duties as bursar, Henson used OCCC’s PayPal account to process refunds to students’ credit cards.

Henson was charged on July 10, 2012, with wire fraud in connection with a scheme to embezzle money from OCCC. This morning, she pled guilty to one count of wire fraud. At today’s hearing, Henson admitted that she improperly used the college’s PayPal account to post refunds/credits to her personal credit cards. She also admitted that the embezzlement scheme lasted from 2004 to 2011. According to the information filed against her, Henson paid off more than $398,000 in personal credit card bills with OCCC refunds that she posted to her personal accounts.

At sentencing, Henson faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of a plea agreement, Henson has agreed to pay restitution to OCCC in the amount of $398,315.12. A sentencing date will be set by the court in approximately 90 days.

The case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris M. Stephens.