Francis Stipe Admits Guilt To All Charges

Francis Stipe today pleaded guilty to all federal charges as part of an agreement reached as a jury was entering its forth day of deliberations in the case.

Stipe, 77, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud, witness-tampering and engaging in an illegal monetary transaction.

Prosecutors had alleged that $191,000 was steered from the state Legislature to buy property owned by Francis Stipe’s brother, former Senator Gene Stipe, for a dog food plant in 2002.

Francis Stipe was president of the McAlester Foundation, the agency that administered the state funds.

As part of the plea agreement, Francis Stipe will receive three years of probation, six months of home detention and pay a $500,000 fine.

Gene Stipe, 81, faces the same charges as his brother, but mental competency issues related to his dementia diagnosis have delayed his trial.

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