Muskogee man pleads guilty to taking $23 million

Saturday, September 13th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ A Durant man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma to a felony charge of misappropriation of postal funds, officials said Friday.

Scott Wayne Hearon stole almost $23 million from the U.S. Postal Service, said Assistant U.S Attorney Gregory Dean Burris. Hearon was employed with the postal service and was responsible for handling postal funds, he said.

An investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service revealed the loss after an audit was performed on postal funds under Hearon's control, officials said.

Sentencing will be scheduled after a presentence investigation.

Hearon faces a possible term of imprisonment of 10 years, a three-year term of supervised release and a fine of not more than $250,000 dollars, officials said. The defendant will also be responsible for repaying the full amount taken.