Phipps In Muskogee Court Today

Steve Phipps, longtime business partner of former state Senator Gene Stipe, will appear in federal court today in Muskogee to plead guilty to a felony mail fraud charge linked to alleged kickbacks to state lawmakers.

FBI court documents allege Phipps and Stipe used state money for private business ventures to give money to political campaigns through so-called straw donors as a way of getting around campaign contribution limits. Phipps' attorney, Dan Webber, says Phipps has been working with federal prosecutors and was a cooperating witness before former state Rep. Mike Mass pleaded guilty to a similar charge in April.

Stipe is scheduled to appear in federal court tomorrow for a probation revocation hearing.

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