MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that JULIE MARIE LAMBERT, age 29, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced for Embezzlement by a Tribal Employee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1163.

“LAMBERT was sentenced to three (3) years probation and ordered to pay $3,152.00 restitution to the Choctaw Nation Casino and $100 Special Assessment Fee,” stated U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling.   “The defendant pled guilty to the charges in February 2008.”

“Charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.   LAMBERT, an employee of an Indian tribal organization, the Choctaw Nation Casino located in Stringtown, Oklahoma, embezzled $4,600.00 belonging to the Choctaw Nation that had been entrusted to the custody or care of an employee of the Choctaw Nation.”

“LAMBERT normally worked in the vault counting money but, on occasion, she provided relief for payout tellers.  On August 9, 2007, LAMBERT provided lunch relief for a payout teller at one of the casino windows.  When the payout clerk returned from lunch, she discovered several bundles of cash were missing.  Casino security was called and started an investigation.  A count of the cash on hand and payouts revealed that $4,600.00 in cash was missing.  LAMBERT was interviewed and confessed to taking the cash from the casino,” U.S. Attorney Sperling continued.