Ex-child welfare worker accused of deceiving clients

A former child welfare case worker is accused of il legally obtaining money from her clients f or court costs, parenting classes and other services even t hough payment was not required, court records show.

Zanade S. Morgan was charged Wednesday with three felonies, including violation of the state' s computer crimes act, and six misdemeanors, including obtaining property by deception or false representation.

Morgan is accused of committing the crimes between November 2017 and August 2018 while she worked f or t he Oklahoma Department of Human Services. She was suspended with pay during an investigation and fired by the agency in January 2019.

Oklahoma County prosecutors allege Morgan, 30, of Midwest City, al t ered a court order to show that $300 in fees were required to get a case closed for a client. On another occasion, Morgan asked a client for $300 to get a court case closed and $200 for parenting classes “when no such fee is required,” prosecutors alleged.

Both clients paid the money while a third client refused to pay $ 300 to get her case closed, records show.

Prosecutors also allege Morgan demanded $300 from one client and $100 from another client to place their names on awaiting list for low-income housing. Morgan is also accused of demanding $100 from a foster mother for glasses for a foster child “without legal authority,” an DHS agent reported.

Two other clients paid Morgan $ 200 each for parenting classes that was not required, authorities said.

Attempts to reach Morgan on Friday were unsuccessful.

In a statement, spokeswoman Casey White said D HS employees provide help and hope to one in four Oklahomans each year and the agency maintains very high standards and expectations for employees.

“These offenses are inexcusable and do not represent our agency or the more than 6,000 employees across the state who work tirelessly to support their fellow Oklahomans,” White said. “We are proud of our Office of Inspector General for quickly discovering and reporting these offenses so Ms. Morgan can be held accountable for her actions.”