Black Lives Matter OKC Executive Director Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson speaks at a BLM protest at the Oklahoma City Police Headquarters in 2020. Dickerson has been accused in a federal indictment of embezzling more than $3 million.

A local Oklahoma Black Lives Matter leader was indicted by a federal grand jury for charges of wire fraud and embezzlement after accusations she used funds meant for social justice causes for her own personal benefit, authorities said.

Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, 52, the executive director of Black Lives Matter OKC, was accused of embezzling more than $3 million in funds, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma said on Dec. 11. She was indicted on Dec. 3 with 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering.

She is accused of using the funds on recreational travel to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, food and groceries for herself and her children, retail shopping, a personal vehicle and six properties in Oklahoma City.

Dickerson could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for money laundering if convicted. She was released on conditions on Dec. 11 after making her first court appearance. Federal Public Defender Jeff Byers declined to comment when reached by the Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"Whatever happens, the work don't stop," Dickerson said in a video streamed live to social media after the court appearance.

She blamed "haters" for the indictment and said she was speaking on Facebook to let her family and friends know she was OK.

"A lot of times when people come at you with these types of things − and I'm probably saying more than I should but I haven't always been compliant, people know this − it's evidence that you are doing the work. And so that is what I'm standing on," she said.

"To those that are saying you are praying for me, don't stop. Please continue, and I thank you," she said.

The indictment comes after the Associated Press and CBS News reported earlier this year that the Justice Department was investigating whether the national Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation misused donations.

Money was meant for bail funds, indictment says

Most of the funds were initially raised to post bail for demonstrators arrested during protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020. Grand jurors accused Dickerson of depositing at least $3.15 million in returned bail checks into her personal accounts, rather than into BLMOKC’s accounts.

Floyd, 46, was killed by police in Minneapolis in May 2020, sparking protests nationwide that sometimes became violent. Officer Derek Chauvin, who was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes, was convicted of murder. The protests in Oklahoma City drew national attention when some participants were charged with terrorism, rioting and assault.

"This is not Seattle," said David Prater, then the Oklahoma County district attorney. "We're not putting up with this lawlessness here."

National bail funds sent millions of dollars to Blacks Lives Matter OKC to free protesters from jail.

Dickerson also allegedly made false reports to the nonprofit Alliance for Global Justice, which served as a fiscal sponsor to Black Lives Matter OKC, about where the money went.

"Dickerson reported that she had used BLMOKC funds only for tax-exempt purposes. She did not disclose that she used funds for her personal benefit," prosecutors said in a news release.

Funds were used for shopping spree, groceries: Indictment

Dickerson made about $4.5 million in bail payments in 2020 on behalf of the defendants, according to the indictment. She eventually got $3.5 million back when the criminal cases were concluded. A $1 million bail payment was forfeited when one defendant failed to appear in court.

The returned funds were supposed to be used for educational or charitable purposes, for future bail payments and to further racial justice and the end of mass incarceration.

The indictment accused Dickerson of instead spending $41,749 of the funds to buy a 2021 Hyundai Palisade.

She also used the funds on recreational travel for herself and her "associates" to the Dominican Republic in July 2021 and to Jamaica in December 2021 and January 2022, according to the indictment.

She allegedly spent "tens of thousands of dollars" at Nordstrom, Macy's, Amazon, Best Buy, Bob Mills Furniture and other retailers. She allegedly spent at least $50,000 on personal food and grocery deliveries to herself and her children.

She used $975,000 to purchase property including $278,000 on a church in 2021, grand jurors alleged.

"The Church Property was intended to be used by BLMOKC as a community center, but Dickerson placed title to the property in her own name," according to the indictment.

The latest property purchase came in July 2024, according to the indictment. It was for $87,000.

Grand jurors alleged Dickerson has been involved with BLMOKC since at least July 2016 and "represented herself to be an unpaid volunteer."

In an interview with the Oklahoman in 2020, she described herself as a co-founder of Oklahoma's Black Lives Matter. About her life philosophy, she said, "For now, it's just enjoying the gift of life, being able to appreciate and empower myself and others."

The indictment says she also is known as the Rev. T. Sheri Dickerson. Minister credentials for her from Universal Life Church dated Feb. 4, 2006, are on file in Oklahoma County District Court.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Black Lives Matter leader in OK accused of misusing millions

Reporting by Nolan Clay and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY NETWORK / Oklahoman

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