FBI Probes College Housing Project Financing; Morgan Got Thousands, Oklahoman Reports
The Federal Bureau of Investigation wants to know why some Oklahoma colleges used non-traditional private financing to build housing projects and why Senate Co-President Pro Tem Mike Morgan (pictured) was paid $230,000 as a result, The Oklahoman reports.
The newspaper's exhaustive study of records shows that Morgan, a Stillwater attorney, was paid huge sums as the attorney on some of the projects. Reporters Tony Thornton and Randy Ellis also report that huge sums were paid to a title company co-owned by former State Senator Gene Stipe, target of an exisiting FBI probe into alleged corruption in southeastern Oklahoma. Stipe's partners in the title company are businessman Larry Witt and Steve Phipps, both mentioned prominently in the FBI investigation into straw donations made to political campaigns. The three have been partners in an abstract company empire that includes title and abstract companies.
The Oklahoman's stories can be accessed at www.newsok.com (registration required) or by purchsing a copy of the Sunday edition.
The newspaper's exhaustive study of records shows that Morgan, a Stillwater attorney, was paid huge sums as the attorney on some of the projects. Reporters Tony Thornton and Randy Ellis also report that huge sums were paid to a title company co-owned by former State Senator Gene Stipe, target of an exisiting FBI probe into alleged corruption in southeastern Oklahoma. Stipe's partners in the title company are businessman Larry Witt and Steve Phipps, both mentioned prominently in the FBI investigation into straw donations made to political campaigns. The three have been partners in an abstract company empire that includes title and abstract companies.
The Oklahoman's stories can be accessed at www.newsok.com (registration required) or by purchsing a copy of the Sunday edition.
Labels: FBI, Gene Stipe, Larry Witt, Mike Morgan, Randy Ellis, Steve Phipps, Tony Thornton
posted by Mike McCarville @ 7:12 PM
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