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Muskogee, OK - Joel R. Thompson, the former Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Housing Authority director, was sentenced to 23 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge, Michael Burrage, and also ordered to pay $81,729 in restitution and $2,100 in fines. Upon release, Thompson will be on three years probation.

Thompson was convicted of 19 counts of mail fraud and two counts of embezzlement back in October 1998. The evidence, information found in travel expense files, showed the double dipping for trips made between 1994 and 1997. Case advances were taken for business trips, and a housing authority credit card was used for expenses, and then a bill would be submitted later.

Thompson may have milked the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as other organizations, out of as much as $100,000, the Federal prosecutor said.

Thompson's retirement account was also ordered liquidated. Its remaining $65,000 is to be turned over to the Cherokee Nation Housing Authority for restitution.

Judge Burrage told Thompson, "You were using Housing Authority funds you shouldn't have been using, which allowed you to put rather significant amounts in your retirement fund." Burrage added, "I believe since the Housing Authority played a part in the account, it should be paid restitution from these funds."

Burrage ordered an installment payment plan to be implemented for Thompson at the time of his release. Thompson was not taken into custody immediately but is to report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons by May 21, 1999.

Thompson said, "I will make all due effort to pay this."

"It should send a signal not only to the Cherokee Nation but any other entity that is receiving federal funds; if you steal, there are ramifications." said Federal prosecutor, Doug Horn.