Over the past couple of days, the OKC media has been all over the story of Jennifer Roberts.
The general gist is that Jennifer ran a nonprofit called OKCity Crisis Nursery – a local organization that exists to prevent children from being exposed to violence, stressful situations, unfit (or last-minute) caregivers, or any other circumstances that can lead to child abuse and neglect.
Well, at least that’s how News 9 explained it when they gave Jennifer $500 last year:
Although Jennifer did appear to help many families and children via OKCity Crisis Nursery, it also appears that the nonprofit may have doubled as a slush fund to support her modern-day suburban mom lifestyle.
The Attorney General’s office caught wind of this and, following an investigation, filed a civil lawsuit to recoup $35,000 in funds they say Roberts used to pay for visits to nail salons, Botox services, sushi dinners, and even a Nissan Sentra... because nothing says con artist like grifting an economical commuter sedan with solid gas mileage. Normally, these fraudsters go a little bigger.
You can read The Oklahoman article about it here, or watch Wendy Suares talking about it here:
Honestly, I’m not really sure what to think about this.
On one hand, I can’t stand con artists… especially those who work in the nonprofit sector. Playing on people’s sympathies to enrich yourself – especially when the victims are literally infants in crisis – is about as low as it gets. If you’re going to con someone, target rich, dumb folks like this guy did:
That being said…
Isn’t this a bit like finding out Robin Hood was keeping a bit of the money he stole for the poor for a night out with Little John and Friar Tuck? I mean, if you’re going to dedicate your life to helping infants in crisis, shouldn’t society reward you with a day at the spa followed by sushi with the gals? That feels like a fair reward.
Then again, you can’t just steal the money and try to write it off as an expense. That’s some amateur-hour, can’t-swaddle-a-baby bullshit. You have to do what the pros do – pay yourself an absurd salary and call it “administrative overhead.” Then you don’t have to worry about writing off your extravagant expenses.
Anyway, we’ll continue to keep our eyes on this case and provide any updates. Will Gentner Drummond or Vicki Behenna go full Sheriff of Nottingham and make an example out of her, or will they quietly settle things and let her ride off into the suburban sunset with a fresh manicure in her Nissan Sentra?
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
