BY TIM WILLERT twillert@opubco.com
A former chief financial officer accused of stealing more than $280,000 from YWCA Oklahoma City was charged with embezzlement Thursday in Oklahoma County District Court.
Shannon Marie Rickards, 41, of Oklahoma City, admitted to charity executives and investigators that she transferred ownership of two bank cards to her name to steal funds, court records show.
One of those cards was issued to Jan Peery, chief executive officer of YWCA Oklahoma City, records show.
Rickards is accused of embezzling $281,410 between October 2010 and January 2013, according to a probable cause affidavit.
All the embezzled money came from revenues generated by Our Sisters' Closet, a resale store at 2209 W Interstate 240 Service Road.
The store accepts donated clothing and resells items to support YWCA programs, including crisis services for battered women and children.
Some of the donated clothing also is given directly to battered women and children who seek YWCA assistance when fleeing violent situations.
Rickards told investigators she used the cards at automated teller machines to withdraw funds from an account that belonged to the resale shop.
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