Publication Date: November 19, 2025, 05:14h.
Updated On: November 19, 2025, 05:14h.
- Former accountant embezzled nearly $25 million from Muscogee Nation’s gaming operations.
- Authorities claim he funneled money via Las Vegas casino accounts.
- Sentenced to nearly six years; substantial restitution still outstanding.
A former accountant for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma has received a nearly six-year sentence in federal prison after embezzling close to $25 million from the tribe’s gaming division.
Michael Anthony Houser, 36, from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, diverted funds over a seven-year span into Las Vegas casino accounts, leading an extravagant lifestyle as a high-stakes gambler, according to prosecutors.
The Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises operates various casino venues throughout eastern Oklahoma, including its flagship establishment, the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, which receives approximately 10,000 visitors daily. MNGE ranks among the largest tribal gaming operators in the United States.
Fraudulent Invoices
Houser was brought on as an accountant in 2011, but the fraudulent activities escalated in July 2016 when he was promoted to accounts payable manager. Court documents indicate he discovered a legitimate vendor whose services had concluded, but remained active in the accounting software.
This allowed him to modify the vendor’s banking details to an account under his control and create a series of fraudulent invoices in the vendor’s name.
On occasions, he authorized these invoices using his administrative privileges and, when faced with questions, produced forged documentation that featured a replicated signature from his supervisor, according to legal filings.
Gambling Lifestyle
Houser aggressively gambled this embezzled money in Las Vegas and also indulged in luxury purchases, including private school fees, a 2024 Lexus, a 2022 Cadillac, a high-end boat, and various investment and savings accounts, as stated by prosecutors.
“Approximately once a month, the defendant would travel to Las Vegas casinos where he gambled extensively… benefiting from numerous amenities and privileges due to his status as a high-stakes gambler,” court documents reveal.
“He also used the embezzled funds to make extravagant purchases from casino retailers, including at least one Rolex watch and Louis Vuitton items,” the filings indicated.
Additionally, Houser misrepresented his income on tax returns, as noted by the IRS. From 2016 to 2022, he failed to declare millions in illicit earnings, including over $7.8 million in 2022 alone, which resulted in a shortfall of $8,205,834 for the Treasury, according to IRS Criminal Investigation.
At the time of sentencing, Houser had forfeited over $7.5 million in cash, casino credits, and other assets linked to the embezzlement. Nevertheless, the Nation continues to incur a loss of $17 million.