Former City Chevrolet Accountant Charged with Mail Fraud and Tax Evasion

January 21, 2010 - Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, announced today that DEBRA A. MINSHALL, of Oklahoma City, has been charged by a federal grand jury with using the U.S. Mail to defraud her former employer, City Chevrolet, and with evading federal personal income taxes.

According to the indictment, Ms. Minshall worked as the controller at City Chevrolet, 5000 West Reno. Her duties included producing financial statements and writing checks, including checks to pay off liens on automobiles purchased by the dealership. The grand jury has charged her with stealing from the dealership by signing City Chevrolet checks and mailing them to banks to pay her personal credit card bills from September of 2002 until October of 2008. In particular, she has been charged with 21 counts of mailing checks to pay personal expenses. The indictment alleges that she disguised these personal payments as lien payments on automobiles that did not exist, that did not require lien pay-offs, or that had liens held by different banks. If convicted on these fraud charges, she will be required to forfeit the proceeds, which according to the indictment total $1,081,475.

Ms. Minshall is also charged with tax evasion for the years 2006 through 2008. The indictment alleges that during each of these years, she failed to report more than $200,000 in taxable income on her federal income tax returns.

If convicted on the mail fraud charges, Ms. Minshall could be sentenced on each count up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Each of the three tax evasion counts would carry a sentence of five years in prison in the event of conviction.

The public is reminded that the indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

These charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott E. Williams.

Reference is made to the indictment for further information.