A federal grand jury indicted an Albany woman for stealing federal funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Muskogee announced Wednesday.

Jo Ann Steward, 49, is indicted for theft of federal program funds.

According to the indictment, from approximately Sept. 12, 2007, through Oct. 23, 2009, Steward, who was office manager of Reynolds Construction, a business that received more than $10,000 in benefits each year from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Authorities said that Steward embezzled at least $5,000 of this money. The charge is the result of an investigation by the Durant Police Department and the United States Secret Service.

The crime is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.

In other crime news, Tiffany Ann Boatner, alias Tiffany Ann Thornton, 31, Calera, was charged this week in Bryan County District Court with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, feloniously pointing a firearm and assault and battery on a corrections officer.

She was arrested Monday after deputies responded to a fight call on Choice Lane in Platter. According to a report by Deputy Joey Tucker, the parties had separated and the victim, Sara Elizabeth Ford, 29, was at Christie’s Toy Box, and she told Deputy Vinny Cacace she had been hit in the face with a gun.

Deputies and a Calera police officer went to the Choice Lane home and spoke with Boatner, who said they fought about money. According to the report, she showed Deputy Tucker a BB gun she said was used to hit Ford.

Tucker called Deputy Cacace to obtain a description of the gun and it was described as a .22-caliber rifle with scope. After more questioning, Boatner’s husband said the gun was in the house and he led Tucker to a bedroom closet where he retrieved the .22 rifle.

According to the report, Ford who was with another person, arrived at the the Boatner residence, and a few minutes later, Boatner, came out of the residence, pointed the gun at her head and told her to get out of the vehicle. She said Boatner then punched her in the face and struck her in the face with the rifle. The fight continued in the yard until it was broken up by Boatner’s husband.

Boatner was arrested and taken to jail, and according to court papers, she punched confinement officer Chris Peebles in the face.