The Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter in Oklahoma City, speaks during a rally outside the Stillwater Police Department in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Those organizations routed most of the money through the Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), which served as BLM OKC’s fiscal sponsor and required that all funds be used for tax-exempt purposes permitted under Section 501(c)(3). AFGJ also prohibited real-estate purchases without its approval and required BLM OKC to fully account for expenditures upon request.
Prosecutors say Dickerson instead deposited at least $3.15 million in returned bail checks into her personal accounts "rather than into BLMOKC’s accounts," and used interstate wires to submit two annual reports to AFGJ that "did not disclose" her personal use of funds. Those reports said the organization’s money had been used only for tax-exempt purposes.
Dickerson served as the group’s executive director beginning in at least 2016 and had access to BLM OKC’s bank, PayPal and CashApp accounts, according to the indictment.
FLORIDA DESIGNATES MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD AND CAIR AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, DESANTIS SAYS
Image of "Spirit Rock" painted with Black Lives Matter message. (Alliance Defending Freedom)
A federal grand jury returned a 25-count indictment on Dec. 3, charging Dickerson with 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire-fraud count and up to 10 years for each money-laundering count, along with potential fines of up to $250,000 per charge.
All charges are merely allegations and Dickerson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News Digital has reached out to Black Lives Matter OKC and the Alliance for Global Justice for comment.
Fox News Digital's Ronn Blitzer contributed to this report.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/black-lives-matter-leader-okc-charged-wire-fraud-money-laundering-alleged-embezzlement-scheme