MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Buck Leon Hammers, age 55, of Swink, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment and 3 years’ supervised release for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 and Conspiracy To Embezzle Federal Program Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Hammers was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,003,312.61.
Hammers’ jury trial began with testimony on Tuesday, February 6, 2018 and concluded on Friday, February 9, 2018 with a guilty verdict. Evidence at trial proved that from in or about June, 2010, and continuing until Jan. 28, 2016, the exact dates unknown to the Grand Jury, the defendant, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, knowingly conspired, agreed, and confederated to execute and attempt to execute, a scheme and artifice to defraud First United, a federally insured national bank.
Evidence at trial further proved that from in or about June, 2010, and continuing until Jan. 28, 2016, the exact dates unknown to the Grand Jury, the defendant, and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, knowingly conspired, agreed, and confederated to execute and attempt to execute, a scheme and artifice to defraud Grant Schools, a public dependent school district which in each calendar year received in excess of $10,000 in federal program benefits.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Department of Education Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
United States Attorney Brian J. Kuester said, “The successful prosecution of Buck Hammers for the fraudulent scheme that he planned and carried out is the result of thousands of hours of work by investigators and prosecutors. The Department of Education OIG, IRS, FBI, and members of this office were tireless in their efforts and their work has paid off. The defendant is being held accountable for the harm that he caused to so many. I hope this sentence gives the added benefit of being a deterrent to others in positions of trust that might consider abusing their position for personal gain as the defendant did."
“Mr. Hammers knowingly and willfully abused his position of trust to steal education funds that were supposed to be used provide services for the most innocent of victims - school children. He is now headed to prison where he’ll have plenty of time to think about the anguish his actions had on those students, their families, and this community," said Neil Sanchez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southern Regional Office. “I’m proud of the work of Education OIG, IRS, and FBI Special Agents for holding Mr. Hammers accountable for his fraudulent actions."
The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States. The defendant will remain in custody pending transportation to the designated federal facility at which the non-paroleable sentence will be served.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
