Oct. 21—An investigation from OSBI into potential embezzlement at Duncan Public Schools has left one local couple facing charges.
According to court records, former DPS transportation director Lee Ann Millan, 47, of Duncan, faces a charge of embezzlement. Her husband, Marco Anthony Millan, faces a charge of obtaining by false pretenses. Both are represented by The Kanehl Law Firm, PLLC, of Duncan.
The charges come after Lee Ann Millan, according to court paperwork, was said to have “fraudulently appropriat(ed) multiple vehicles that belonged to DPS” between February 2016 to August 2023 and her husband “obtained a 1998 Ford F-150 owned by DPS” in April 2023. The vehicle was valued at more than $2,500, but less than $15,000.
Affidavits indicate DPS requested OSBI to investigate in March 2024 after district officials “discovered … 24 vehicles that were missing from the transportation department.” The same affidavit shows many of the vehicles had been sold, but the district never received compensation for the vehicles in question. Lee Ann Millan worked as the transportation director for DPS from 2016-2023.
“A title history check showed that many of these vehicles had been sold and registered with private citizens,” the affidavit states.
In April 2023, according to affidavits, an advertisement from Facebook listing the DPS vehicles for sale was spotted by someone, who then bid $800 for an 1998 Ford F-150. The bid won, and Marco Millan delivered the vehicle. When the buyer did not like the truck, Marco Millan then rebought the vehicle from the original buyer, only to sell it again to another buyer for $2,500 in December 2023.
Lee Ann Millan told investigators she did not have information about the second buy, because her and Marco Millan were split up at the time. The second purchase, records indicate, happened at the location Marco Millan was staying during the couple’s split.
The vehicle was owned by DPS but no funds were received by the district, affidavits state. Authorities later learned that the signature on the sale of the vehicle was not the signature of the purchaser. The title had remained in the first purchaser’s name until the second purchaser went to re-tag the vehicle.
In an interview, Lee Ann Millan “admitted to selling the vehicle” and it was found she notarized the title.
In April 2021, affidavits show another person on Facebook needing a vehicle was contacted. The person drove to Duncan and purchased a 2006 Ford Taurus from Lee Ann Millan at her home. Affidavits show the person paid $2,000 in cash to Lee Ann Millan, who gave the person the title, which was again notarized.
“Millan admitted selling the vehicle,” in an interview, reads the affidavit. “Millan did not have an answer for why the money was never given to the school system.”
OSBI also spoke with school officials who handle financial transactions. It was discovered no money had been received from the transportation department for vehicles sold, “except in September 2021 when three busses were sold to Bixby Public Schools.” Besides that, affidavits show there was no money received for vehicles in 2019, 2020, 2022 or 2023.
Records further state five busses were purchased from the transportation department in 2023. A Duncan district employee took the money and gave it to Lee Ann Millan, who in turn provided titles for the busses. In the interview with investigators, Lee Ann Millan said this transaction did happen. The employee also had a recording of the conversation where Lee Ann Millan admitted to having the money, but no money was received by the district for the busses.
In total, 29 vehicles and busses were found to be sold by the transportation department, but no funds were received by the district. The total of the vehicles that were re-titled and the purchases prices came to $26,837. Nine busses were never re-titled and a purchase price was unavailable for those, investigators noted in their report.
Embezzlement is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for up to 10 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000 and restitution. Obtaining by false pretenses is punishable by a term not to exceed five years in the Department of Corrections or not to exceed one year in the county jail, or by a fine not to exceed $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine.
Bail for Lee Ann Millan was set at $15,000 by a judge, although the prosecution asked for a $50,000 bond. Bond for Marco Millan was set at $5,000.
Both have been released on bond.
Both Lee Ann Millan and Marco Millan are due back in court for a preliminary hearing conference at 9 a.m. Jan. 8, 2025.
