BY RANDY ELLIS rellis@opubco.com
MUSKOGEE — Six contractors and construction management officials pleaded guilty Monday to federal charges related to bribery schemes involving Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma casino construction projects.
Co-conspirators used money generated by false billings and bribery schemes to finance lavish purchases and travel, including $855,625 spent at Louis Vuitton, $252,061 at Saks Fifth Avenue, $166,695 at Tiffany and Co., and $147,764 at Exclusive Resorts.
At least 52 firearms and firearm-related equipment valued at more than $104,000 also were purchased.
Doug Horn, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, estimated the financial loss to the tribe at about $7 million and said about $6 million in restitution already has been made.
Pleading guilty Monday in Muskogee federal court were two former Tulsa executives with Builders Steel Corp., two former construction management officials for Tulsa-based Flintco, a former Scott Rice office furniture sales executive and a former Choctaw Nation project manager for the Durant Casino and Hotel construction project.
Builders Steel President Lauri Ann Parsons, 45, and her husband, Brent Alan Parsons, 46, carried out three separate schemes to bribe officials and defraud the Choctaw Nation, according to a news release issued by the Muskogee U.S. attorney's office.
The illegal acts were committed from 2008 through 2010.
Various schemes
One scheme involved providing trips, vehicles, firearms, property, furniture, tuition, mortgage payments and other gifts to employees of the Choctaw Nation and Flintco.
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