Former Love County Treasurer Lorry Hull is accused in an indictment of embezzling $21,499 in public funds.
The state’s multi-county grand jury indicted Hull on Thursday, charging her with seven counts of embezzling funds from the state’s treasurer. Prosecutors told the grand jury judge that she was suspected of using the funds for gambling.
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Jurors alleged she embezzled public funds for her own purposes in July and August 2020. Hull, 45, was treasurer of the southern Oklahoma county from February 2013 to September 2020. She now lives in Ardmore.
After she came under suspicion, she told a state comptroller in 2020, “Orange doesn’t suit me and I’m so embarrassed about what others will think,” according to an affidavit for a search warrant. The comment about orange is apparently a reference to the color of prison uniforms.
Her lawyer was not available for comment on Friday.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a press release Friday that his office will “zealously seek justice for the residents of Love County.” Each charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, his press release said.
“This case is all the more disturbing because the alleged embezzlement was committed by an elected official who is responsible for the safekeeping of taxpayer funds,” Drummond also said.
Hull was originally charged in September 2020. A month later, prosecutors dropped the two counts of embezzlement by the county treasurer in order to further investigate “all allegations” against her.
Earlier this month, she was sentenced to probation in Carter County District Court for driving under the influence in Ardmore last year. She pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge in December.
