Former Coyle clerk sentenced to prison in embezzlement case that left small town reeling

A Logan County judge handed down a prison sentence Friday morning for Jennifer Jones, the former Town of Coyle Clerk/Treasurer, after she entered a blind plea of guilty in March to six felony counts tied to a complex embezzlement scheme that misused tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars.

Jones, 40, appeared in court for sentencing after admitting to misappropriating over $63,000 in public funds between 2018 and 2019. During the hearing, Logan County Assistant District Attorney Karen Dixon described Jones’ actions as “complex and sophisticated,” adding that she went to great lengths to cover her tracks and left the small community of Coyle in “devastation.”

According to an investigative audit conducted by Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd, Jones misappropriated cash and checks from utility payments, fire department dues, and court citations. Additionally, she and her husband, William Jones, a fellow town employee at the time, received unauthorized payroll payments totaling more than $6,200. The audit found that more than 450 utility payments — totaling nearly $50,000 — were credited to customer accounts but never deposited into town bank accounts.

Jones also deposited four checks totaling $2,593.88 directly into her personal bank account and attempted to deposit a fifth for $3,252.17 before bank staff flagged the transaction. When questioned, Jones admitted to taking the check from the town.

The audit found that the misappropriated funds represented more than 20% of the town’s average annual revenue — a staggering impact for a community with roughly $301,000 in yearly income. The report prompted charges filed by the Logan County District Attorney and a deeper investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

During Friday’s sentencing, the court ordered the following:

Count 1 – Embezzlement: 8 years, with 5 years suspended
Count 2 – Embezzlement: 2 years
Count 3 – Embezzlement: 5 years, with 2 years suspended
Count 4 – Making False Entry Related to Public Funds: 20 years, with 17 years suspended
Count 5 – Making False Entry Related to Public Funds: 20 years, with 17 years suspended
Count 6 – Violation of Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act: 10 years, with 7 years suspended

All counts will run concurrently, with Jones serving three years in prison, eligible for release with good behavior, followed by probation for the remainder of her sentence.

The judge emphasized that Jones had violated the public’s trust in the “highest degree,” saying her conduct caused significant harm and set the town back.

Jones, who still owes $70,038.27 in restitution, turned around after sentencing and extended her wrists to be handcuffed. She was taken into custody by a deputy and booked into the Logan County Jail. She will be transferred to the Department of Corrections to serve her time.

Before sentencing, her therapist testified that Jones had stopped using drugs and gambling, but Dixon pointed out that she did not begin therapy until after charges were filed.

Moments before the hearing began, Jones’ attorney, Irven Box, presented a $2,000 check to prosecutors as part of the restitution effort. Box later requested probation or weekend jail sanctions, noting Jones holds a full-time job and could repay the remaining balance within eight years. He added that she has a strong family support system.

The judge, however, declined to grant probation, saying the extent of the crime and breach of public trust required incarceration.

State Auditor Cindy Byrd said the case serves as a cautionary tale for all local governments in Oklahoma: “Any person entrusted with handling public money must be subjected to rigorous oversight and accountability. Every case of fraud, waste, or abuse we uncover is preventable.”