Former Hulbert Schools treasurer sentenced for theft of federal education funds

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that a Hulbert woman was sentenced to 12 months and one day for one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

Charges against Leslie Shannon Mack, 54, arose after a probe by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Education - Office of Inspector General. As part of the sentence, Mack is ordered to pay $372,808 in restitution.

According to reports, Mack issued herself and another individual excessive payroll payments above and beyond their district-authorized salaries between June 2019 and October 2021. Mack also allowed another individual access to the financial accounting system. Those actions resulted in a loss to the Hulbert Public School District exceeding half a million dollars.

"The OSBI appreciates the great work conducted by all our law enforcement partners who assisted with this investigation," said Hunter McKee, public information manager for the OSBI. "Providing justice to the victims impacted by this case is vital to our agency."

Honorable Judge Ronald A. White presided over the hearing and Mack is instructed to self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility by Jan. 10 to serve a non-paroleable sentence.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Joshua Satter prosecuted the case.