A woman who embezzled more than $1 million from an Oklahoma City-based energy company has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison and ordered to reimburse the company and the IRS.
Naomi D. Walker of Moore was sentenced in Oklahoma City federal court to 45 months in prison for stealing more than $900,000 from Star Pipe Service Inc., misusing its corporate credit card and lying to the IRS about her income.
The 55-year old woman admitted she used the money to finance a gambling habit over an 8-year period stretching from September 2006 to April 2014.
Prosecutors called it ‘horrendous” and said because of Walker did to the company, the firm had to make layoffs. Walker’s defense attorney blamed it on a “pathological condition” and said much of the money was lost on slot machines.
Under orders from U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-Lagrange, Walker has to pay $940,419 in restitution to Star Pipe Service and $330,924 to the IRS.
StarPipe Service makes inspections and repairs to piping and oil-field tubular material. The firm was founded in 1985 by Glenn Houck and according to its website, normally employs about 25 people.
