Mike Mass Admits He Took Bribes From Steve Phipps To Fuel Gambling Addiction

Muskogee (By Tony Thornton/The Oklahoman) ~ Former state Rep. (and onetime Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman) Mike Mass admitted today that he took bribes from a southeast Oklahoma businessman and spent most of it to feed his gambling addiction.

Mass testified at the criminal trial of Francis Stipe, the brother of former state Sen. Gene Stipe. The Stipes are accused in a four-count indictment of conspiring to access taxpayer money for a complex scheme involving a McAlester dog food plant and the repayment of illegal loans made to a 1998 congressional campaign.

Prosecutors Say He Took $250,000

Mass is among three former Democratic legislators who prosecutors say received bribes from businessman Steve Phipps, who is Gene Stipe's former business partner. Prosecutors previously have said Mass got about $250,000.

However, outside the courtroom this morning, a defense attorney for Francis Stipe displayed a ledger showing Phipps' businesses actually paid Mass $400,500 between 2002 and Jan. 3, 2006.

Mass said he got a $48,000 check at the Oct. 22, 2002, closing of a property sale that benefited Gene Stipe.

Stipe owned the property that was sold to build the National Pet Products plant for $191,609.78, using taxpayer Mass had earmarked.

Phipps asked Mass months earlier to get the money and offered him a 10 percent cut, Mass testified.
He said he declined at first, but when he went to the closing, "they handed me a check, and I took it."

Other witnesses have testified that Mass attended the closing solely to get his kickback.

Asked why he took the money, Mass said he had just lost a congressional campaign and "I had a horrible gambling addiction that I was trying to satisfy."

He then said of all the money he got from Phipps, "most of it" was lost in casinos.

Mass testified under partial immunity. He awaits sentencing after pleading guilty last year to a conspiracy charge.

Earlier this morning, the defense finished its cross-examination of Phipps, another star witness.

Francis Stipe's attorneys portrayed Phipps as a habitual criminal who got a sweetheart deal from prosecutors even after after he continued paying bribes while trying to negotiate a plea agreement.

Phipps faces a maximum five-year prison sentence and up to a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty last year to a conspiracy charge.

He likely won't be sentenced until he testifies at the upcoming trial of state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gay Guthrie noted that Phipps also could be ordered to pay up to $2.7 million in restitution for the taxpayer money that went to his various businesses.

Share |