Former Executive Assistant at Oklahoma City University Pleads Guilty to Committing Wire Fraud by Misuse of University Credit Card

OKLAHOMA CITY—Lisa Carolin Riggs, 37, from Yukon, Oklahoma, pled guilty this week to committing wire fraud by misuse of her employer-issued credit card, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Riggs worked at Oklahoma City University (OCU) from May 2004 until November 2011. She worked as the executive assistant to the OCU President from May 2004 to July 2010, as executive assistant to the OCU vice president from July 2010 to April 2011, and as executive assistant to the OCU dean of the School of Business from April 2011 to November 2011. In her positions, Riggs performed administrative and clerical duties that included making university-authorized purchases with an OCU credit card that had been issued in her name.

According to court records and information from the plea hearing, from September 2004 to November 2011, Riggs used her OCU credit card to purchase various items and services for personal use, including gas, groceries, apparel, travel, wireless phone service, and payments on her Oklahoma Pikepass account. Riggs did not maintain receipts or complete and submit monthly transaction logs to her supervisor for approval as required. Her failure to do so made it appear she did not have any transactions to be approved. In the spring of 2011, the OCU accounting department discovered the lack of documentation as part of a random audit. In sum, it was alleged that Riggs made unauthorized purchases of goods and services totaling $104,210.33.

Riggs was charged by information on September 19, 2013, with one count of wire fraud. On October 29, 2013, Riggs pled guilty and agreed to pay restitution of $104,210.33 to OCU and $54,736.59 to the Delta Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi. At sentencing, she faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. A sentencing hearing will be set by the court in approximately 90 days.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Brown.