Nonprofit gets $1.8 million judgment against former state senator

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Legal action against a former state senator has closed with the entry of a $1.8 million judgment in Tulsa County District Court.

The Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/1S3j9ZC ) reports that District Judge Mary Fitzgerald entered the judgment against former Sen. Rick Brinkley on behalf of the Better Business Bureau. A similar judgment against him was entered in federal court last week.

Brinkley pleaded guilty to wire and tax fraud charges stemming from his embezzlement of more than $1.8 million from the Better Business Bureau, which he led for 16 years. Court documents and Brinkley’s statements indicate he began taking money from the nonprofit nine years ago to cover gambling losses.

Brinkley, 54, surrendered nearly all of his assets as part of his sentencing agreement. He’s set to serve 37 months in federal prison beginning April 14.