STIPE, BROTHER INDICTED BY GRAND JURY
UPDATED ~ A federal grand jury in Muskogee today indicted former State Senator Gene Stipe and his brother Francis Stipe.
The allegations include mail fraud, witness tampering and money laundering. The indictment documents are available for viewing on The Oklahoman's website, www.newsok.com. The witness tampering charge alleges the Stipes bought the mortgage on former State Rep. Mike Mass' house to keep him from testifying against them in the grand jury investigation. It's the latest development in federal investigations that resulted in Stipe's fall from power. He resigned his Senate seat and lost his license to practice law in earlier action.
Stipe, 80, once the most powerful politician in the Oklahoma Legislature, is on federal probation after being convicted of felony conspiracy and perjury stemming from his involvement in Walt Roberts' 1998 campaign. Francis Stipe, McAlester businessman, reportedly has been involved in numerous transactions with his brother over a long period and that relationship is at the heart of the indictment.
Stipe has been been accused of giving a $48,000 kickback to Mass in October 2002, for a real estate deal with Stipe involving National Pet Products. Mass pleaded guilty in April to a mail-fraud scheme for his role in funnelling $250,000 in state funds to the Rural Development Foundation, which provided funds to National Pet Products and Indian Nations Entertainment Corp. Stipe is also accused of owning abstract companies in north Oklahoma that sold title insurance. Larry Witt, an alleged “straw donor” in a campaign contributions scheme, ran the insurance companies. Because he is a convicted felon, Stipe is prohibited from being involved in the insurance industry. Stipe image courtesy the Tulsa World.
The allegations include mail fraud, witness tampering and money laundering. The indictment documents are available for viewing on The Oklahoman's website, www.newsok.com. The witness tampering charge alleges the Stipes bought the mortgage on former State Rep. Mike Mass' house to keep him from testifying against them in the grand jury investigation. It's the latest development in federal investigations that resulted in Stipe's fall from power. He resigned his Senate seat and lost his license to practice law in earlier action.
Stipe, 80, once the most powerful politician in the Oklahoma Legislature, is on federal probation after being convicted of felony conspiracy and perjury stemming from his involvement in Walt Roberts' 1998 campaign. Francis Stipe, McAlester businessman, reportedly has been involved in numerous transactions with his brother over a long period and that relationship is at the heart of the indictment.
Stipe has been been accused of giving a $48,000 kickback to Mass in October 2002, for a real estate deal with Stipe involving National Pet Products. Mass pleaded guilty in April to a mail-fraud scheme for his role in funnelling $250,000 in state funds to the Rural Development Foundation, which provided funds to National Pet Products and Indian Nations Entertainment Corp. Stipe is also accused of owning abstract companies in north Oklahoma that sold title insurance. Larry Witt, an alleged “straw donor” in a campaign contributions scheme, ran the insurance companies. Because he is a convicted felon, Stipe is prohibited from being involved in the insurance industry. Stipe image courtesy the Tulsa World.
Labels: Campaign Finance Scandal, Francis Stipe, Gene Stipe, Gene Stipe. Jeff McMahan
posted by Mike McCarville @ 11:20 AM
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