TULSA, Okla. – A Muscogee (Creek) Nation executive branch official has been charged with embezzlement.

According to documents filed Tuesday in the Northern District of Oklahoma, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Second Chief Roger Barnett "stole, knowingly converted to his use, and willfully misapplied” $150,000 of tribal funds between April 3, 2013, and April 29, 2014.

Appearing Wednesday before Magistrate Judge Frank H. McCarthy, Barnett is currently out on a personal recognizance bond. He has an arraignment hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. on Aug. 13. If convicted, the maximum penalty is five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The federal system does not offer parole.

Elected second chief in 2011, Barnett was a member of the Muscogee (Creek) National Council for 12 years and had served the tribe in various capacities since 1991.

Attempts to reach Barnett Wednesday afternoon were unsuccessful. Principal Chief George Tiger released a statement after Barnett’s indictment was unsealed.

“As elected officers of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation we hold a great responsibility to our government and a legal duty to the citizens of our nation,” he said. “Our nation will continue to exercise fiscal responsibility and adhere to all financial rules, policies, accounting principles, and laws our Nation has adopted to protect the integrity of our tribal funds.

“The nation will fully cooperate with the federal authorities with the message that all charges are allegations at this point and Second Chief Roger Barnett is innocent until proven guilty.  My thoughts and prayers go out to Second Chief Barnett and his family during this difficult time, and I hope and pray for a quick resolution to this matter.”

Headquartered in Okmulgee, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation has more than 70,000 enrolled citizens