TULSA, Okla. – Former Muscogee (Creek) second chief Roger Barnett is heading to prison.

Barnett was sentenced Tuesday morning to 33 months of incarceration, plus an additional three years of supervised release and $211,880.76 in restitution.            

Barnett pleaded guilty in October after being accused of taking more than $200,000 in tribal funds between April 3, 2013, and April 29, 2014, through frequent withdrawals at area ATMs. According to court documents, the withdrawals generally were between $200 and $800 and were often at casino ATMs.

Although the defense maintained that some of the withdrawals were to provide cash for applicants to the tribe’s emergency assistance program, which is under the Office of the Second Chief, Barnett admitted that most of the transactions were used for personal reasons, including gambling.

As part of the terms of Barnett’s probation, he will not be allowed at or near any casinos and will be required to undergo gaming addiction treatment.

Barnett is currently serving time in the Okmulgee County Jail for failing to pay child support and arrived to Tuesday morning’s hearing in shackles and a jumpsuit. He did not speak during the proceedings and his court-appointed attorney, Paul Brunton, did not call any witnesses or present any evidence in an effort to have the sentence reduced.

After the hearing, Brunton said he does not plan on appealing the sentence, but will instead focus on getting his client into a federal facility as close to Tulsa as possible. His federal prison sentence is to run consecutively with his Okmulgee County jail time.

“It’s like the difference between staying at the Hilton versus staying at a Motel 6,” he said.

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.

After Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief George Tiger issued a statement calling for all parties to respect Barnett’s privacy.

“The sentence handed down today to former Muscogee (Creek) Nation Second Chief Roger Barnett by the U.S. Northern District of Oklahoma Court was felt throughout the nation. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation continues to heal and unify during these trying times, but we will reemerge stronger and will persevere.

“We ask that all tribal citizens, employees and media respect the privacy of Mr. Barnett and his family, and we continue to pray for him and his family. That is the Mvskoke way.”