Court filings allege nonprofit leader diverted charitable funds for personal expenses, transfers to associates and continued soliciting tax-deductible donations after the organization’s tax-exempt status lapsed.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Prosecutors allege the founder of an Oklahoma City nonprofit serving children in crisis spent charitable donations on cosmetic procedures, vacations and other personal expenses while directing hundreds of thousands of dollars through electronic payment services in a years-long scheme that led to racketeering and other felony charges against nine people.
Court filings unsealed Tuesday accuse Jennifer Lynn Roberts, founder and executive director of OKCity Crisis Nursery, of using the charity’s accounts between 2018 and early 2026 to divert money intended for the organization while transferring additional funds to family members and other associates. According to the probable cause affidavit, Roberts founded the nursery to provide safe care for children in crisis situations. Roberts and the eight co-defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The criminal case stems from an investigation by the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. Roberts is charged with racketeering under Oklahoma’s Racketeer-Influenced Corrupt Organization Act, embezzlement, charitable solicitation fraud, false preparation of exhibits as evidence, computer crimes, endeavoring to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and engaging in transactions involving proceeds from unlawful activity.
The attorney general’s office alleges Roberts embezzled more than $50,000 in charitable donations for personal use and transferred more than $200,000 to other charged individuals through Venmo and Cash App.
Investigators trace years of financial activity
According to the probable cause affidavit, investigators reviewed years of bank records, Cash App and Venmo transactions, PayPal records, search warrant returns and other financial documents while tracing the nonprofit’s finances. The affidavit alleges Roberts was the sole authorized signer on the organization’s primary financial accounts for much of the period under investigation.
Investigators allege nursery funds paid for a wide range of personal expenses, including cosmetic medical treatments, salon visits, tanning services, fitness memberships, clothing purchases, Airbnb stays, cabin rentals, restaurant deliveries and other non-charitable expenses. The affidavit also alleges charitable funds were used to purchase a vehicle later titled to private individuals rather than the nonprofit.
Court records further allege Roberts transferred substantial sums through Cash App and Venmo to relatives and acquaintances, with transaction descriptions referencing personal expenses, food, gas, clothing, gifts and other items unrelated to the nursery’s charitable mission. Prosecutors contend those transfers were part of a broader pattern of unlawful financial activity.
Tax-exempt status and donation allegations
Investigators also allege Roberts continued soliciting tax-deductible charitable contributions after the nursery’s federal tax-exempt status was revoked in 2024. According to the affidavit, donor communications recovered during the investigation included requests for tax receipts after the organization allegedly no longer qualified as a tax-exempt charity. The affidavit states Roberts acknowledged during an interview that the organization’s IRS tax-exempt status had lapsed.
“Oklahomans open their wallets to organizations like this because they believe they’re helping children, not funding someone’s lifestyle,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement. “When a person exploits that trust and turns a charity into a personal slush fund, my office won’t look the other way when vulnerable kids are used as cover for personal greed.”
Nine defendants charged
The remaining defendants are Kaleb Roberts, Myra Hargrove, Chelsea Fowler, Tyler Maness, Lauren Langley, Avery Parker, Noel Crow and Christopher Roberts. Court records show they face various charges including embezzlement, receiving unlawful proceeds, accessory after the fact, false preparation of evidence and drug-related offenses.
According to the attorney general’s office, eight of the nine defendants were in custody Tuesday. Prosecutors allege the conduct occurred over several years and constituted a pattern of criminal activity supporting the racketeering charge. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
