$1.2 million embezzlement

Judge sentences Edmond man on 174 counts

EDMOND — An ex-auditor for a state agency who pleaded guilty to 174 counts of embezzlement has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

In June 2009, a multicounty grand jury indictment accused Roger Q. Melson of embezzling almost $1.2 million in royalty payments intended for the Commissioners of the Land Office, which administers, manages and controls the use of land set aside by federal legislation for the benefit of schools.

Melson, 56, of Edmond, worked for the agency for 21 years, most recently as audit director. The indictment alleged that Melson diverted agency royalty payments to his own personal use. He was sentenced on Tuesday.

The grand jurors accused Melson of creating and registering with the Oklahoma secretary of state an entity called Commissioner of the Land Office, and opening a bank account referenced Roger Q. Melson, Jr. DBA Commissioner of the Land Office, according to the Attorney General’s Office. He then allegedly diverted almost 200 CLO payments to this bogus entity during a five-year period.

The embezzlement came to light when a delinquency notice was issued by the Land Office for an overdue payment from an oil and gas producer on public lands. However, the producer provided the canceled royalty check it sent to the agency, and investigators traced it to Melson’s private bank account.

The Attorney General’s Office administers the multicounty grand jury and directed the prosecution. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation at the attorney general’s request.