A federal grand jury has indicted Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, executive director of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City, on 25 counts including wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors allege Dickerson diverted over $2.3 million in charitable donations intended for bail and social justice efforts into her own accounts for personal gain.
According to the Department of Justice, Dickerson used her position from 2016 to 2025 to embezzle money through BLMOKC accounts. Though BLMOKC was not a registered 501(c)(3), it operated under the fiscal sponsorship of the Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), which required compliance with IRS nonprofit guidelines. BLMOKC raised over $5.6 million, largely from national bail funds such as the Community Justice Exchange, Massachusetts Bail Fund, and Minnesota Freedom Fund, intended to post bail for protestors and support social justice initiatives.
From June 2020 through October 2025, Dickerson allegedly deposited at least $2.35 million from returned bail funds into her personal accounts. These funds were meant to be recycled into future bail efforts or used for tax-exempt purposes. Instead, the indictment alleges the money funded lavish personal expenses.
Prosecutors claim Dickerson spent tens of thousands on retail shopping, over $50,000 on food and grocery delivery, paid for international travel to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, and purchased six properties in Oklahoma City under her name or an LLC she controlled. She also reportedly acquired a personal vehicle and submitted falsified annual reports to AFGJ, concealing her personal use of the funds.
The 25-count indictment includes 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. Each wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each money laundering count carries up to 10 years in prison. If convicted on all charges, Dickerson faces up to 450 years in prison and more than $7.5 million in fines.
The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Dillon and Jessica L. Perry. The Department of Justice emphasized its continued pursuit of fraudulent conduct within the Black Lives Matter network, highlighting its commitment to prosecuting those who misuse charitable funds under the guise of social justice.
