The U.S. Attorney's Office in Tulsa has announced formal federal criminal charges have been filed against Owasso State Senator Rick Brinkley.
Brinkley pleaded guilty to six federal charges this morning, admitting to taking more than $1.8 million from the Tulsa Better Business Bureau when he served as its director. He was fired last spring from that post.
He pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion. All are felonies. He is facing up to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced Nov. 20.
State Auditor Gary Jones and Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman have called for Brinkley's resignation.
"He’s a convicted felon today, and there’s probably a state statute that doesn’t allow convicted felons to hold state office," said U.S. Attorney Danny Williams after Brinkley entered his plea.
Brinkley submitted a letter this morning to the secretary of state, resigning from the Senate immediately. Governor Fallin has called a special election to fill the North Tulsa County post.
Williams said Brinkley spent the money he stole on his living expenses, credit card bills and gambling.
"There were significant amounts of money, several hundreds of thousands of dollars of monies, withdrawn from ATMs from different casinos, Vegas trips, things of that nature," Williams said.
The case may not stop with the federal charges, either.
"We will consider additional possible charges that we will present, possibly, to District Attorney Kunzweiler, who will then make a determination as to whether or not additional charges on the state level may or may not be filed," said Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Director Stan Florence.
Brinkley is also being sued, in civil court, by the BBB for taking $1.8 million dollars from the organization.
