Oklahoma Black Lives Matter leader faces indictment for fraud and money laundering.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Media News Source) — A federal grand jury has indicted Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, the leader of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City (BLM OKC), on multiple charges, including 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. The indictment, issued earlier this month, stems from allegations that significant sums of grant funds were allegedly misappropriated for personal expenses, including international travel and real estate acquisitions.
The indictment alleges that Dickerson, 52, has been the executive director of Black Lives Matter OKC since at least 2016, during which time the organization reportedly raised over .6 million from 2020 onwards. These funds, largely sourced from online donations and national bail funds, were earmarked for posting bail for individuals arrested during racial justice protests that followed the death of George Floyd in 2020.
It is claimed that Dickerson diverted at least .15 million from these funds into her personal accounts. The indictment details expenditures that include trips to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, over ,000 on groceries and food deliveries for herself and her family, and the purchase of six properties in Oklahoma City, which were either deeded in her name or registered under a business she controlled.
Additionally, she is alleged to have submitted misleading annual reports to the Alliance for Global Justice, asserting that these funds were utilized solely for tax-exempt purposes. If found guilty, Dickerson could face substantial penalties, including up to 20 years in federal prison and fines of up to 0,000 for each count of wire fraud, as well as a maximum of ten years for each money laundering count.
In a video posted to her Facebook page shortly after the indictment was announced, Dickerson stated that she was not in custody and expressed confidence in her team. She emphasized her belief in continuing the work of the movement despite the allegations against her, suggesting that such challenges are indicative of impactful advocacy.
The Black Lives Matter movement emerged in 2013, following the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. The movement gained nationwide prominence after the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, turning “Black lives matter” into both a call for social justice and a polarizing issue in American politics.
In October, reports indicated that the Justice Department was investigating potential fraud involving leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement, who oversaw tens of millions of dollars during the 2020 protests. However, there is no immediate evidence connecting the investigation to Dickerson’s indictment.
