Black Lives Matter Leader Faces 25 Charges After $3.15M in Donations Stolen

While dozens of Oklahoma City protesters waited behind bars for bail money to cycle back into a community fund, federal prosecutors say millions of dollars in those court returns were instead routed into the personal accounts of the woman leading the effort.

Federal Indictment Unveiled

A federal grand jury in Oklahoma City has charged Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson, 52, executive director of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City, in a 25‑count indictment alleging a years‑long fraud and money laundering scheme tied to donations earmarked for bail assistance.

Prosecutors say that between 2020 and 2025 Dickerson diverted at least $3.15 million in charitable funds, largely donated in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, away from their intended purpose and into accounts she controlled. The indictment includes 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering, describing what authorities call one of the largest known cases involving misuse of money raised for racial justice causes.

According to court filings, national groups such as the Minnesota Freedom Fund and the Community Justice Exchange provided millions of dollars to Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City specifically to post bail for arrested demonstrators. The local organization became a central conduit for donations meant to secure the release of protesters jailed during the 2020 unrest.

How Bail Money Became Alleged Personal Income

The alleged scheme turned on a basic feature of the criminal justice system: when a defendant’s case is resolved, bail posted in cash is typically returned. In 2020, Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City is reported to have posted roughly $4.5 million in bail on behalf of protesters. When those cases concluded, the courts sent back the money by check.

Instead of returning those funds to organizational control to be reused for other defendants, the indictment asserts that Dickerson personally deposited about $3.15 million of the returned bail into bank accounts she owned. Prosecutors say that by doing so, she effectively converted money that donors believed would revolve through the bail system into an unapproved income stream.

Because the Oklahoma City group was not a stand‑alone tax‑exempt charity, it operated under the fiscal sponsorship of the Alliance for Global Justice, an Arizona‑based nonprofit. That arrangement allowed the group to receive tax‑deductible donations on the condition that the money be used for charitable purposes and properly reported. Prosecutors allege Dickerson submitted false annual reports to the fiscal sponsor that concealed the diverted funds and misrepresented how the money was being used.

Homes, Travel, and High‑End Spending

Investigators say the diverted funds were quickly transformed into property, travel, and personal consumption. Court documents describe the purchase of six properties around Oklahoma City totaling nearly $975,000, including a $278,000 building presented publicly as a community church but titled in Dickerson’s name, and several rental properties acquired through a shell company.

The indictment also lists international and leisure travel, including trips to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for Dickerson and associates, as well as luxury retail spending. Prosecutors say the financial records show tens of thousands of dollars spent at upscale department stores such as Nordstrom and Macy’s, along with the $41,749 purchase of a 2021 Hyundai Palisade sport‑utility vehicle.

Forensic accounting highlighted another pattern: at least $50,000 allegedly spent on food and grocery deliveries for Dickerson and her family. All of this, prosecutors contend, took place while she portrayed herself to donors and sponsors as an unpaid volunteer committed solely to the mission of bail support and racial justice advocacy.

Public Response, Legal Exposure, and Wider Fallout

After she was released on bond, Dickerson addressed supporters in a live video on Facebook. Without discussing specific allegations, she suggested the case was connected to her activism and told viewers, “A lot of times when people come at you with these types of things, it’s evidence that you are doing the work,” while asking followers to continue praying for her. She remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, Dickerson could face up to 20 years in federal prison on each wire fraud count and up to 10 years on each money laundering count, along with substantial fines and the forfeiture of any assets traced to the alleged scheme.

The case arrives amid broader federal scrutiny of finances within organizations that saw an unprecedented influx of donations during the 2020 racial justice protests. Reports in late 2025 describe Justice Department interest in potential fraud at several entities that received tens of millions of dollars that year, although Dickerson’s case has not been formally linked to any national‑level inquiry.

The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation has emphasized that local chapters such as the Oklahoma City group operate independently, stressing that it does not control Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City’s operations and reiterating its own focus on financial transparency.

Nonprofit specialists say the indictment underscores vulnerabilities in fiscal sponsorship arrangements, which allow emerging activist groups to accept large sums quickly but rely heavily on the honesty and record‑keeping of local leaders. The case is expected to intensify calls for stricter audits and reporting requirements for bail initiatives and other fast‑growing community funds that function outside traditional charitable structures.

Beyond the dollar amounts, prosecutors and advocates note a human impact: money allegedly siphoned away represents potential bail for hundreds of defendants who might otherwise have secured pretrial release. The situation has shaken trust among donors who believed they were helping people leave jail, not financing private assets and travel. As the court proceedings move forward, regulators, sponsors, and grassroots organizers face mounting pressure to strengthen oversight systems that can protect both public contributions and the communities those funds are meant to serve.