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Date: 01-26-2023
Case Style:
United States of America v. Lauren Michelle Owen
Case Number: 4:23-cr-00013
Judge: Gregory K. Frizzell
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (Tulsa County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney's Office in Tulsa
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Tulsa, Oklahoma criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with bank fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion.
Lauren Michelle Owen, age 39, admitted that between 2016 and 2020 she made unauthorized payments from the bank account of the company where she worked to her personal credit card accounts that “had no legitimate business purpose and solely benefitted myself.”
Owen also admitted to making unauthorized debit card payments from the company’s bank accounts and depositing unauthorized company-drawn checks made payable to herself and other business entities that she controlled.
Owen’s fraud included spending misappropriated pandemic-based small business loan proceeds to buy a 2018 Chevrolet Corvette for $82,000, buy a 1998 40-foot yacht for $64,655 and pay off a $38,603 loan on a 2018 Ford F-250.
In all, Owen agreed that her scheme cost LandEnergy LLC of Tulsa about $768,125 in losses.
She began working for the company in 2010 as a secretary and eventually was promoted to vice president and the company’s sole financial officer, according to court records.
In addition to the bank fraud, Owen also admitted to wire fraud when she applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration and indicated in the November 2021 loan application that she was not under indictment when she sought the loan.
18 USC 1344(2): Bank Fraud; Forfeiture Allegation: 18 USC 982(a)(2), 26 USC 7301(a)-(e) and 7303, and 28 USC 2461 - Fraud and Tax Evasion Forfeiture
(1)
18 USC 1343: Wire Fraud; Forfeiture Allegation: 18 USC 982(a)(2), 26 USC 7301(a)-(e) and 7303, and 28 USC 2461 - Fraud and Tax Evasion Forfeiture
(2)
26 USC 7201: Tax Evasion; Forfeiture Allegation: 18 USC 982(a)(2), 26 USC 7301(a)-(e) and 7303, and 28 USC 2461 - Fraud and Tax Evasion Forfeiture
(3)
Outcome: 01/26/2023 15 MINUTES of Proceedings - held before Magistrate Judge Christine D Little: Change of Plea Hearing held on 1/26/2023 , striking/terminating deadline(s)/hearing(s), guilty plea entered as to Lauren Michelle Owen (Re: 2 Felony Information ) (Court Reporter: FTR Mag 1) (ll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 01/26/2023)
01/26/2023 16 CONSENT by Defendant to Proceed before a Magistrate Judge for Change of Plea (in Felony case) approved by Magistrate Judge Christine D Little as to Lauren Michelle Owen (ll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 01/26/2023)
01/26/2023 17 WAIVER of Right to have Thirty Days to Prepare for Trial approved by Magistrate Judge Christine D Little by Lauren Michelle Owen (ll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 01/26/2023)
01/26/2023 18 WAIVER of Right to Trial by Jury approved by Magistrate Judge Christine D Little by Lauren Michelle Owen (ll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 01/26/2023)
01/26/2023 19 PETITION to Enter Plea of Guilty and ORDER Accepting Plea by Magistrate Judge Christine D Little as to Lauren Michelle Owen (ll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 01/26/2023)
01/26/2023 20 PLEA AGREEMENT as to Lauren Michelle Owen (ll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 01/26/2023)
01/26/2023 21 SEALED PLEA SUPPLEMENT (ll, Dpty Clk) (Entered: 01/26/2023)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: