Federal prosecutors have charged the executive director of Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City (BLM OKC) with wire fraud and money laundering, alleging she siphoned off more than $3.15 million in donation money to fund her lavish lifestyle.
Investigators found that Tashella Sheri Amore Dickerson diverted millions in returned bail checks and funneled the money into her personal bank accounts over five years.
According to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday, Dickerson, 52, allegedly rerouted funds intended for the group’s bail initiatives and social-justice programming into accounts she controlled between June 2020 and October 2025.
Prosecutors say Dickerson used the money “for her personal benefit,” including luxury travel to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, “tens of thousands of dollars in retail shopping,” more than $50,000 in food delivery purchases, a vehicle, and six real properties.
Prosecutors: Millions Raised for BLM OKC, But Funds Never Reached the Organization
A DOJ press release states BLM OKC raised over $5.6 million beginning in 2020, largely through public donations and grants routed from organizations such as the Community Justice Exchange, the Massachusetts Bail Fund, and the Minnesota Freedom Fund.
Most of that money moved through the Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ), a well-connected left-wing nonprofit that served as the group’s fiscal sponsor and required that all funds be used for permitted charitable purposes under 501(c)(3) rules.
AFGJ also barred real-estate purchases without prior approval and required detailed expenditure reports.
According to the indictment, Dickerson instead deposited returned bail checks into her personal accounts “rather than into BLMOKC’s accounts.”
Federal prosecutors say she then submitted annual reports to AFGJ that “did not disclose” her personal spending and falsely represented that the organization’s funds had been used only for tax-exempt purposes.
Dickerson, who had access to the organization’s bank accounts, PayPal, and CashApp, had served as BLM OKC’s executive director since at least 2016.
Indictment Revives Questions About BLM Financial Transparency
National scrutiny over Black Lives Matter’s financial oversight is not new.
In 2022, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which is not affiliated with BLM OKC, faced widespread criticism after New York Magazine reported the group had purchased a $6 million California property using donor funds.
Internal memos at the time showed leaders attempting to navigate questions about the purchase.
Asked about Dickerson’s charges, a BLM Global Network Foundation spokesperson emphasized the movement’s decentralized structure:
“The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation operates independently from local chapters, and the local chapters operate independently of the Foundation,” the spokesperson said.
“The Foundation remains committed to transparency and integrity, and disrupting what philanthropy looks like in service of black people.”
Dickerson Faces Decades in Federal Prison if Convicted
A federal grand jury returned a 25-count indictment on December 3, charging Dickerson with:
• 20 counts of wire fraud (up to 20 years each)
• 5 counts of money laundering (up to 10 years each)
• Potential fines of up to $250,000 per charge
The FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation led the probe.
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.