Osage Police Stop Fraud Ring, Receive Commendation

ONPD Honored by The Osage Nation Gaming Commission for Swift Response and Arrests

By ON Communications

L-R - Osage Nation Assistant Principal Chief Raymond Red Corn, Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, ONPD Officer Jake Branscum, ONPD Investigator Michael Kennedy, Officer Mike Anderson, ONPD Chief Nick Williams, ONGC Acting Commission Director, Elizabeth Hembree, and ONGC Surveillance Manager Amy Kolis.

PAWHUSKA, Okla. (November, 10, 2015) — On Nov. 6, the Osage Nation Police Department (ONPD) received a commendation from the Osage Nation Gaming Commission (ONGC) for stopping a fraud ring that is accountable to date for multiple thefts totaling more than $14,000. Police Chief Nick Williams said the FBI and Secret Service have been contacted and several arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

ONGC called the ONPD about suspicious behavior by a person at an Osage Casino approximately one week ago. The ONPD then immediately formed an investigative task force to look into any associated individuals identified by the ONGC and immediately discovered a fraud ring that had already passed fraudulent credit cards and checks to other non-Osage casinos and other Tulsa businesses.

“It’s an ongoing investigation and there have been several arrests. At this point in time, there is $14,000 to $16,000 that has been accounted for as possibly lost through this fraud ring,” Williams said. “We are also working with Tulsa County law enforcement and we are going to pursue federal indictments. That is all we can say at this time.”

Elizabeth Hembree, ONGC Acting Director, said, “[an Osage Casino] had discovered some potentially fraudulent credit cards and persons who had been coming on [casino] property using various names to try and get money. Our cashiers and security officers had stopped them on different levels and we later found out they had been to a number of our other properties. I then called the Osage Nation Attorney General’s office for their assistance.”

Assistant Attorney General Clint Patterson sent ONPD Investigator, Michael Kennedy, to meet with the Casino Management and the ONGC on Oct. 30 to begin the investigation. It was unknown at that time how many individuals were involved and ONGC surveillance officers and Osage Casino staff were gathering as much information as possible to assist in the ONPD investigation.

According to Hembree the suspects were using stolen credit cards that were reprogrammed to debit funds from alternate credit and debit card accounts. Hembree was alerted by Casino executives and Surveillance Manager, Amy Kolis, confirmed the suspicious activity.

Kennedy said, “[ONPD] did conduct a sting on the fraudulent cards being used at Osage Casinos. We executed it beautifully and we were able to apprehend three people and apply charges such as fraudulent use of credit cards and impersonation.”

On April 14, 2015, ONGC Commissioners, Marsha Harlan, Chair, Michael Kidder, Vice-Chair and Larraine Wilcox, passed an Anti-Crime Initiative declaring that ONGC will be diligent in the stand against criminal behavior occurring on Osage Casino premises. At the Nov. 2, 2015, Board Meeting, the Commissioners voted to issue a Certificate of Commendation congratulating and thanking ONPD for a job well done.

Osage Nation Communications will continue to follow this story.

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