Key Takeaways
- Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, the leader of Black Lives Matter in Oklahoma City, has been indicted on 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering.
- The indictment alleges that Dickerson embezzled at least $3.15 million in grant funds and used the money for personal expenses, including international trips, groceries, and real estate.
- The funds were raised through charitable donations and were supposed to be used to post bail for individuals arrested in connection with racial justice protests.
- Dickerson faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison and fines for each count of money laundering.
- The Black Lives Matter movement has been under scrutiny for its financial management, with the Justice Department investigating whether leaders defrauded donors who contributed tens of millions of dollars during racial justice protests in 2020.
Introduction to the Indictment
The leader of the Black Lives Matter movement in Oklahoma City, Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, has been indicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The indictment, which was announced on Thursday, alleges that Dickerson embezzled millions of dollars in grant funds and used the money for personal expenses. The funds were raised through charitable donations and were supposed to be used to post bail for individuals arrested in connection with racial justice protests. The indictment is a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of the Black Lives Matter movement’s financial management.
The Allegations Against Dickerson
According to the indictment, Dickerson served as the executive director of Black Lives Matter OKC since at least 2016. During that time, the organization accepted charitable donations through its affiliation with the Arizona-based Alliance for Global Justice. The organization raised more than $5.6 million dating back to 2020, largely from online donors and national bail funds. However, the indictment alleges that Dickerson embezzled at least $3.15 million into her personal accounts and used the money to pay for trips to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, retail shopping, at least $50,000 in food and grocery deliveries for herself and her children, a personal vehicle, and six properties in Oklahoma City deeded to her or to a company she controlled. The indictment also alleges that Dickerson submitted false annual reports to the alliance stating that the funds were used only for tax-exempt purposes.
The Potential Consequences
If convicted, Dickerson faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison and fines for each count of money laundering. The indictment is a significant blow to the Black Lives Matter movement, which has been under scrutiny for its financial management. The movement has been accused of lacking transparency and accountability, and the indictment of Dickerson is likely to fuel further criticism. In a live video posted on her Facebook page, Dickerson said she was not in custody and was "fine." She also expressed confidence in her team and stated that she was "standing on" the fact that she was doing the work of the movement.
The History of the Black Lives Matter Movement
The Black Lives Matter movement first emerged in 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida. However, it was the 2014 death of Michael Brown at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri, that made the slogan "Black lives matter" a rallying cry for progressives and a favorite target of derision for conservatives. The movement gained momentum in 2020, following the killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer. The movement’s message of racial justice and police accountability resonated with many Americans, and it quickly gained a large following. However, the movement has also been criticized for its tactics and its financial management.
The Ongoing Investigation
The indictment of Dickerson is part of a larger investigation into the financial management of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Associated Press reported in October that the Justice Department was investigating whether leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement defrauded donors who contributed tens of millions of dollars during racial justice protests in 2020. There was no immediate indication that Dickerson’s indictment is connected to that probe. However, the investigation is likely to continue, and it may lead to further indictments and revelations about the movement’s financial management. The Black Lives Matter movement has been under scrutiny for its lack of transparency and accountability, and the indictment of Dickerson is likely to fuel further criticism and calls for reform.
