It’s been a long time coming, but felony charges have been filed in what is being alleged as the largest reported abuse of taxpayer funds in state history.
Last week, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Epic Charter Schools founders Ben Harris and David Chaney and former Chief Financial Officer Josh Brock.
They are facing multiple felony charges. According to what the OSBI released, Harris and Chaney face counts of racketeering, embezzlement, obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to commit a felony, violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, submitting false documents to the state and unlawful proceeds.
Brock, as a co-conspirator, is facing eight felony counts.
Then Gov. Mary Fallin called for the initial investigation and the OSBI began its probe in 2013.
Reportedly, a second request came in 2019 from a state legislator, the OSBI stated.
Later, Gov. Kevin Stitt and State School Supt. Joy Hofmeister also called for investigative audits.
OSBI Director Ricky Adams pointed out the investigation was very complex, agents came up against roadblocks that caused delays in what he termed “getting to the truth.”
He further claimed, “Harris, Chaney and Brock came up with a get rich scheme that lined their pockets with tax dollars that were to be spent for the benefit of Oklahoma students.”
It reportedly was an intricate, deliberate scheme that agents took a great deal of time unraveling.
The OSBI claims this scheme by the three resulted in a cost exceeding $22 million to Oklahoma taxpayers.
Former State Sen. Ron Sharp, of Shawnee, who early on was concerned and convinced that state funds obligated to Epic Blended Learning Centers was being misappropriated, this week issued a statement.
“Apparently Harris and Chaney believed they could make up their own rules. These guys ran a corrupt business and it feels good to know they are now out of business in Oklahoma.”
One of the things Sharp had complained about all along was the use of Oklahoma tax dollars to fund Epic California.
Epic later filed a lawsuit against Sharp that was thrown out by a district judge who called it a “frivolous lawsuit” and issued sanctions against Epic.
State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd’s investigative audit was released nearly two years ago.
Area school superintendents in Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties have been critical of Epic for several years. Like former Sen. Sharp, they have claimed Epic hasn’t had to play by the same rules and guidelines.
Superintendents, among them Jeff Pruitt at Meeker, Blake Moody of North Rock Creek, Alicia Ebers at White Rock, former Dale Supt. Charlie Dickinson, were all critical of Epic and the way it operated.
Harris, Chaney and Brock will have their day in court in the future. We can only hope they are prosecuted to the fullest as allowed by our justice system.
If found guilty, they should be made to pay for their actions.