Back in March, we – along with the rest of the OKC media – told you the infuriating story of Jennifer Roberts, the founder and executive director of OKCity Crisis Nursery.
For years, Roberts presented herself as an advocate for poor, vulnerable babies, even winning a $500 community-service award from News 9, when, according to investigators, she was actually using the nonprofit as a suburban-mom slush fund to pay for Botox, nail salons, sushi dinners and even a Nissan Sentra.
Here’s what I had to say at the time:
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?
Well, I guess we finally got our answer to that question!
AG Gentner Drummond – a guy who will seize any and every opportunity to boost his positive name recognition – is going full Sheriff of Nottingham and making an example out of Jennifer and her alleged co-conspirators.
Via the AG’s office:
After an investigation by Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office, nine people have been charged in connection with an embezzlement scheme at OKCity Crisis Nursery. The investigation found that Jennifer Lynn Roberts, 43, the nonprofit's founder and executive director, embezzled more than $50,000 in charitable donations for personal use. That spending included cosmetic procedures, salon visits, a gym membership, clothing and vacations. Investigators also found Roberts moved more than $200,000 in funds to other charged individuals through Venmo and Cash App.
“Oklahomans open their wallets to organizations like this because they believe they're helping children, not funding someone's lifestyle,” Drummond said. “When a person exploits that trust and turns a charity into a personal slush fund, my office won't look the other way when vulnerable kids are used as cover for personal greed.”
Yep, he may look the other way when a cop kills your kid’s grandpa, but he’s apparently not going to let some trashy suburban mom use vulnerable children as cover for greed!
That’s actually good to know. Had Kevin Stitt been calling the shots, he probably would have put Jennifer in charge of DHS!
Anyway, here’s the full list of the other alleged scammers:
- Kaleb Roberts — Embezzlement
- Myra Hargrove — Embezzlement
- Chelsea Fowler — Embezzlement; accessory after the fact for allegedly creating a fake board of directors to help Jennifer Roberts evade prosecution
- Tyler Maness — False preparation of exhibits as evidence for allegedly falsifying community-service records used in an unrelated court case
- Lauren Langley — Receiving unlawful proceeds
- Avery Parker — Receiving unlawful proceeds, including two counts tied to a vehicle allegedly purchased with Crisis Nursery funds for personal use
- Noel Crow — Receiving unlawful proceeds tied to the same vehicle purchase
- Christopher Roberts — Endeavoring to distribute a controlled substance
KFOR was able to obtain mugshots for all nine defendants charged as part of the investigation.
Here’s Jennifer’s:
Yikes! The jig may be up on her nonprofit scam, but apparently the lip-injection budget remains fully funded. Seriously, those things look like they were purchased with charitable funds and matched by a private donor!
Anyway, you can view and properly shame the other alleged scammers over at KFOR. When you do, remember that every dollar they allegedly pocketed was donated by someone who thought they were helping vulnerable children.
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
