Three former DHS officials accused of false travel claims scheme

William “Bill” Wilson Jr. was charged Monday in Okfuskee County District Court with presenting false claims against the state. He was an area director in the former field operations division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services

A former DHS county director, Debra Winn, and the DHS supervisor, Sherry L. Roberts, also were charged Monday with presenting false claims against the state. Roberts resigned from the agency Wednesday morning, records show.

“This was clearly a scheme to circumvent state travel policy to pay Roberts to commute from her home. It is extremely disappointing that DHS staff would be part of an attempt to defraud the state,” DHS spokeswoman Sheree Powell said Wednesday.

Wilson, 67, of Coalgate, could not be reached for comment. He worked at DHS for 35 years, retiring on Jan. 31, 2012, records show. His attorney did not immediately respond to messages left at a law office.

Winn, 53, of Chandler, resigned last October after almost 23 years at DHS. She was the Okfuskee County director. “It's bigger than anyone knows but I'm not going to say anything yet,” Winn said Wednesday.

Roberts, 54, of Weleetka, could not be reached for comment. She had worked at DHS since 1990.

DHS investigator Christopher Comer reported in a court affidavit that the false travel claims were completed between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2011.