OKC attorney admits to stealing from children

OKLAHOMA CITY – Former attorney John Milton Merritt pleaded guilty to a 12-count Federal indictment charge on Friday.

The charges included four counts of bank fraud, one count for using a forged U.S district judge signature, and seven counts of money laundering.

The 74-year-old is accused of defrauding Quail Creek Bank in Oklahoma City as well as stealing over $400,000 from orphans whose trust funds he managed.

On Friday, Merritt entered his plea in front of a federal judge in Kansas due to Oklahoma City judges recusing themselves from the case.  

Merritt is expected to receive sentencing later this year.