$2.6 million paid by farmers and ranchers missing from Oklahoma Beef Council

A federal investigation has been launched into the alleged embezzlement of $2.6 million by an employee of an obscure state board that promotes the beef industry, money created by a mandatory government program funded by farmers and ranchers. No criminal charges have been filed, but the non-profit Oklahoma Beef Council in October 2016 filed a civil lawsuit seeking the recovery of money it says was obtained by its former accounting and compliance manager, identified in court records as Melissa Morton. The former compliance manager allegedly forged checks dating back to 2009, an independent audit obtained by Harvest Public Media reveals . Through her attorneys, Morton declined to comment. The Oklahoma Beef Council is one of 43 state boards that comprise the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, an organization funded by a $1-per-head “check-off” paid by farmers and r anchers each time they sell an animal. While few consumers know of the group’s existence, their “ Beef, It’s What