Former Logan County deputy pleads guilty to money fraud

Former Logan County Deputy Sheriff Doyle Allen Baker, 31, pleaded guilty to theft from a federal transportation grant.

The announcement came from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In November 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Baker for stealing more than $5,000 from federal grant funds administered by the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, which is part of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, provided these funds to OHSO, which passed on to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the indictment, Baker knew the federal funds could be used only to pay for employees working outside regular duty hours.

From July to September of 2016, he allegedly submitted fraudulent time sheets that represented he worked overtime hours he did not in fact work. The indictment states he hid the fraudulent nature of more than $5,000 in overtime hours by submitting fake citations and warnings.

On March 7, Baker pleaded guilty to the indictment before U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot.

Baker could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced in the next 90 days.

In 2017, Baker pleaded no contest in Oklahoma County on a second degree burglary charge. His sentence was deferred until 2022 and was to pay $300 in fines.