Local

Former Skiatook School Superintendent going to federal prison for conspiracy

Former Skiatook superintendent Gary Johnson will spend just over a year in federal prison and must pay back more than $200,000.

Johnson pleaded guilty in 2012 to federal conspiracy charges after a scheme with businessman Rick Enos that over-billed the school district for supplies.

Prosecutors tell KRMG that Enos would submit invoices to Johnson at the Skiatook Schools for the supplies, equipment and services at prices that were as much as 400% inflated above the fair market value.

Johnson would then approve payments by the Skiatook Schools for the over billed invoices.  In exchange, Johnson would corruptly solicit and accept things of value, including cash, tickets to college football games, and the costs for travel, food, lodging, and entertainment from Enos.

Enos and Johnson previously admitted to conspiring to defraud the United States by hiding from the Internal Revenue Service income  from bribes in the preparation and filing of Johnson’s income tax returns.

In July 2012, Johnson pleaded guilty in state court to four counts of taking cash bribes from Enos.

In the state case, Johnson was given a 15-year suspended sentence and was ordered to repay more than $650,000.

An audit revealed the school district paid Enos $570,000 more than it would have paid for custodial supplies and security equipment had it purchased them directly.

United States Attorney Danny C. Williams, Sr. released a statement following today's sentence. Williams says, “Today’s sentence puts public officials on notice that they are not above the law, and will be held accountable when they solicit and accept bribes to influence their conduct.”

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