Man Sentenced for Embezzling Nearly $25 Million from Muscogee Creek Nation Casino

Background of the Case

A man from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has been sentenced following his involvement in a massive embezzlement scheme targeting the Muscogee Creek Nation Casino. The individual, Michael Anthony Houser, aged 36, was found guilty of fraud and theft involving millions of dollars.

Details of the Embezzlement and Sentencing

Houser, who once served as the accounts payable manager at the casino, will serve a prison term of 70 months. In addition to his jail time, he has been ordered to repay substantial sums to both the Muscogee Creek Nation and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Specifically, he must return $17,377,949.50 to the Muscogee Creek Nation and $8,205,834 to the IRS. This sentencing came seven months after Houser admitted guilt to charges related to financial misconduct.

The fraudulent activities took place over several years, from July 2016 through February 2024. During this period, Houser siphoned off nearly $24.9 million from various agencies and programs affiliated with the Muscogee Creek Nation that received federal funding.

Tax Fraud and Legal Consequences

Beyond embezzlement, Houser also engaged in tax fraud by failing to declare the stolen funds on his federal tax returns. His underreporting spanned from 2016 to 2022, which further compounded his legal troubles.

In 2022 alone, he concealed over $7.8 million of illicit income on his tax filings. These actions resulted in financial harm to the IRS amounting to more than $8.2 million. The investigation that led to his conviction was spearheaded by the US Secret Service in conjunction with the IRS Criminal Investigation unit.