Dozens of Charges, Millions Allegedly Stolen — A Stunning Federal Case Unfolds

The executive director of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma has been charged in federal court with multiple serious crimes, accused of misappropriating millions of dollars in charitable donations intended for bail assistance and social justice initiatives and instead using the funds for personal luxury expenses.

According to a recently unsealed federal indictment, Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, 52, has been charged by a grand jury with 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering.

In a statement, the U.S. Department of Justice said that each wire fraud count carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, while each money-laundering charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and similar financial penalties.

Federal prosecutors allege that Dickerson diverted more than $3.5 million from accounts connected to BLM Oklahoma (BLMOKC) into her personal bank accounts over a period spanning several years.

The indictment claims that the funds were spent on vacations to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, six real estate properties in Oklahoma City, tens of thousands of dollars in luxury retail purchases, and more than $50,000 on food and grocery delivery services for herself and her family.

Court documents state that from June 2020 through at least October 2025, Dickerson allegedly carried out a long-running embezzlement scheme. Prosecutors say she deposited approximately $3.15 million in returned bail checks directly into her own accounts instead of returning the money to BLMOKC.

The case is among the largest fraud prosecutions connected to the Black Lives Matter movement since 2020, when BLM-related organizations raised hundreds of millions of dollars nationwide following the death of George Floyd.

According to prosecutors, BLMOKC raised more than $5.6 million from online donors and national bail funds during the 2020 protests. Much of the funding reportedly came from organizations including the Community Justice Exchange, the Minnesota Freedom Fund, and the Massachusetts Bail Fund, with the stated purpose of posting bail for protesters and supporting racial justice initiatives.

Although BLMOKC was not formally registered as a nonprofit, it operated under the fiscal sponsorship of the Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), an Arizona-based nonprofit organization. Under that arrangement, AFGJ required that all funds be used strictly for charitable purposes permitted under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that detailed financial reporting be provided.

Prosecutors allege that Dickerson violated those requirements by submitting false annual reports to AFGJ using interstate wire communications, falsely claiming that all funds were used for tax-exempt purposes and failing to disclose her personal use of the money.

Federal investigators say Dickerson transferred more than $3 million in returned bail funds into her personal accounts and used the money to finance an upscale lifestyle that included international travel, designer shopping, restaurant and grocery deliveries, the purchase of a personal vehicle, and multiple real estate properties. Several of the properties were reportedly registered either in her name or through Equity International, LLC, a company prosecutors describe as a shell entity under her control.

The indictment outlines a pattern of alleged deception toward donors and AFGJ, asserting that funds meant to support individuals arrested during racial justice protests were instead used for personal enrichment.

If convicted on all charges, Dickerson could face decades in federal prison.

Announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester said the case demonstrates a commitment to holding individuals accountable who exploit public trust for personal gain, regardless of political affiliation or position.

The case adds to a broader series of investigations and legal actions involving BLM-affiliated organizations, several of which have faced scrutiny in recent years over the alleged misuse of donated funds.