Former Postmaster In Oklahoma Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $624K

James E. Draheim, 63, of Elgin, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty yesterday to charges he embezzled $642,808 from the Elgin, Oklahoma Post Office where he had served as Postmaster. According to prosecutors, Draheim misappropriated the funds over a period of about four years, from October 2005 to September 2009. As part of the plea agreement, Draheim pleaded guilty to theft of public funds and filing a false tax return and must repay the $624,808 he stole. Prosecutors alleged that he took money from postal customers for bulk mailings but did not fully credit their accounts, misappropriating the remainder. He faces up to 10 years in prison, plus a fine of up to $250,000 and additional restitution to the IRS for taxes owed from 2005 through 2009.

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Pennsylvania Municipal Tax Collector Charged With Embezzling $200K

Michael O’Neill, 50, of Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and the former tax collector for the municipality, has been charged with embezzling $201,181 from the town. Prosecutors believe the misappropriations had occurred over several years where O'Neill would take funds and later pay them back, but ultimately could not make the repayments. O'Neill has been charged with theft of public funds. Authorities believe O'Neill was a heavy gambler, losing $182,000 at the Parx Casino between December 2008 and December 2009.

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