Feds charge Oklahoma senator with wire fraud, false tax returns

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Federal prosecutors have charged a two-term Oklahoma state senator with wire fraud and filing a false tax return in connection with a scheme to embezzle more than $1.8 million from a nonprofit agency.

Prosecutors filed charges late Wednesday against Sen. Rick Brinkley, who had previously agreed to step down from his state Senate seat on Dec. 31. According to court documents, the Republican from Owasso is charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of subscribing to a false tax return.

The court records say the charges are a result of plea negotiations between Brinkley and federal prosecutors. A change of plea hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at federal court in Tulsa.

Brinkley worked at the Better Business Bureau for 15 years.