Employee fired from Planned Parenthood accused of stealing
A fired Planned Parenthood employee has been accused of using a credit card from the nonprofit to pay for lingerie, hotel stays, amusement park attractions and a cruise.
“The total unauthorized credit card charges spanning over nine states and Mexico was $23,442,” a Warr Acres police officer reported in a court affidavit.
Kelly Lee Smith, 38, of Oklahoma City, was charged Monday in Oklahoma County District Court with felony embezzlement. Prosecutors allege Smith made the unauthorized purchases between May and August.
Smith worked at the Planned Parenthood in Warr Acres, police reported. The location, which opened last year, is the organization’s first Oklahoma clinic to provide abortions.
Smith was fired Aug. 28. Other unauthorized expenses on the credit card included clothing, pet supplies, beauty products, waxing services, electronics, pedicures, home decor, child care and fast food, according to the affidavit.
Police reported Smith embezzled an additional $2,424 in cash that was supposed to be deposited into the Planned Parenthood bank account.
Smith was booked into the Oklahoma County jail Oct. 11 and released a week later, jail officials said. She has declined to speak with police about the allegations, according to the affidavit.
She could not be reached Tuesday by phone.
Smith has pleaded guilty in the past to bogus check offenses, records show.