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LEADER NOW AVAILABLE AT QUIZNO'S IN CLAREMORE
Stop by Quizno's on Will Rogers Blvd. for a copy of the Oologah Lake Leader.
EX-COACH TODD BINGHAM ADMITS TO WIRE FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING
VICTIMS INCLUDE FORMER PLAYER
By JOHN M. WYLIE II, Editor
Former Oologah youth baseball coach William Todd Bingham has pleaded guilty to two federal felonies, wire fraud and money laundering, in connection with an Oklahoma-based scheme which prosecutors say defrauded investors -- including at least one of his team members -- of almost $7 million.
Bingham, who has residences in Oologah and Owasso, entered his guilty plea Wednesday, July 30 before U.S. District Court Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford, Conn.
Under provisions of a plea bargain, prosecutors are recommending a prison sentence of up to 87 months (7-1/4 years) and a fine of up to $125,000 plus forfeiture of all proceeds of the fraud and restitution to the victims.
"I know hate is a strong word and you're not supposed to hate, but I have a lot of hatred for that man," said a local victim who knew Bingham as both his baseball coach from the age of 15 and as a distant relative by marriage. "It is pathetic and sad that he would take advantage of people who looked up to him or did look up to him and had a lot of respect for him.
"You never ever in a million years would picture that your baseball coach…would rip you off in the end and not feel bad or guilty about it at all."
The victim, who asked that his name not be used, lost $30,000 in principal and $20,000 in promised interest and profit-sharing.
Judge Droney will make the final decision on Bingham's punishment at a sentencing hearing set for 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17 at the federal courthouse in Hartford. Until then, Bingham is free on a $50,000 non-surety bond.
According to the plea bargain agreement (click here) Bingham operated a scheme in which he obtained millions of dollars from investors by claiming to be buying thousands of cars and reselling them for a profit of $200 to $300 each under a contract with a national car rental company.
The scheme lasted from May 2001 through June 2007.
The plea agreement says there was no such contract, and that Bingham ran the money through a series of accounts at Oklahoma banks before using most of it for personal expenses or to repay early investors.
The document says Bingham lulled investors with some payments and with reports on the status of his business such as one in 2002 that claimed sales that year of 7,497 vehicles and a gross profit of $2 million.
In fact, Bingham was using investors' money to pay his personal mortgage, car payment, credit card bills and to withdraw large amounts of cash for his personal use, the plea bargain agreement states.
The money laundering charge outlines one series of transactions in which Lakeside State Bank of Oologah and RCB Bank of Claremore were victimized.
See this week's Oologah Lake Leader for the rest of the story.
HEALERS COME HOME
Dr. Sam Stauffer and Physican Assistant Pauline Dolton look over patient records Monday after getting moved back into their offices in Oologah last week. The Omni Medical Building was damaged by flash flooding in June and the staff had been working out of Owasso.
GET READY TO TEE OFF
The action will be exciting if not down right funny as the Oologah Lake Leader brings Urban Golf to Downtown Oologah Sept. 5.
The tourney will feature nine holes (targets) of golf played around downtown Oologah. Players will use special golf balls that are safe around people, windows and automobiles.
You don't have to be an experienced golfer to play in this tourney. Matter of fact, you can play even if you have never touched a golf club. You just have to have a sense of humor, enjoy having fun and like a challenge.
The Around Town Urban Golf Tournament proceeds will benefit the Newspaper in Education program at the Oologah-Talala schools.
Each year teachers request newspapers in their classrooms to use as teaching tools. The Leader and sponsor partners placed 1,430 papers each week in the school last year. This fundraiser will help fund newspapers and a teacher's workshop.
Tee time will be 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in downtown Oologah. After a brief hydration time players will be given a course map, special balls and rules (one or two) and encouraged to go have fun. A barbecue dinner is included in the entry fee and will be served in the Chamber office at the end of the play.
Entry fee is $50 per person; non-player dinner guest $15. Mulligans are $5 each with no limit. Hole sponsorship is $100.
For additional information call Carolyn Estes at 443-2428 or her cell 344-3389.
Entry forms may be downloaded by clicking here or by contacting the Leader office.
WILSON READY TO RUN O-T ATHLETICS
By CHRIS EDENS, City Editor
A new athletic director has taken the ball at Oologah Schools and he's ready to run with it.
Mick Wilson comes to Oologah after serving three years as the athletic director at Independence Community College in Kansas. Wilson is taking over for Brent Payne, who took the head baseball coach's job at Claremore earlier this summer.
Wilson grew up in northeast Oklahoma and graduated from Quapaw High School. He has coaching experience in the area and he's excited about the opportunity to work in Oologah.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back in the Tulsa area and bringing my family back here," Wilson said. "After interviewing with the administration, I knew it would be a good fit for me professionally and personally and obviously this is an outstanding school district that has a great reputation. For me it's just a win-win situation."
Wilson began moving into his new office this week. He said his first priority is getting to know the staff and learning the way the school district works.
With the start of the school year just around the corner, Wilson has had to hit the ground running. He said he won't be making any sudden changes.
"My goal is to be a positive influence on the students and to help the coaches in any way I can," Wilson said. "I'm ready to wrap my arms around this thing and learn as much as I can as fast as I can."
Wilson plans to meet with all the coaching staff as soon as possible. He said he looks forward to working with the coaches to continue to grow the athletic programs in Oologah.
After only a few days on the job, Wilson has already been impressed with the quality of the staff and the facilities at the school.
"I've toured the facilities and they are impressive," Wilson said. "There are a lot of nice buildings and classrooms. You can tell it's a very conducive learning environment for the students."
Athletics will be Wilson's focus, but he said academics were just as important to a student athlete's success. Wilson said he will work closely with coaches, teachers and students to make sure they maintain good grades and remain academically eligible.
"It takes a team effort from coaches, teachers, parents and counselors. We'll make whatever we can available to our student athletes, whether it's tutors or study halls, to make sure they make good grades," he said.
Wilson has experience coaching basketball and baseball. He was the head men's basketball coach at Independence for two years before becoming athletic director.
Wilson has an associate degree from Northeastern State University, a bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University and a master's degree from Henderson State University.
He is marred with two-year-old twins, a boy and girl. Wilson and his wife are looking to buy a house in the Oologah area and he said he is thrilled to be moving back to Oklahoma.
QUIET ZONE OR TRAIN WRECK?
By CHRIS EDENS, City Editor
Union Pacific Railroad sent a representative to Tuesday's Oologah Town Board meeting to answer questions about ongoing problems in establishing a quiet zone in town. He got an earful.
Charlie Felkins with Union Pacific said the program is not directed through the railroad. He said the Federal Railroad Administration is in charge of establishing quiet zones.
"If the city meets all federally mandated requirements, all you have to do is send a letter to the railroad saying stop blowing your horns and we have no choice," Felkins said.
Assistant Town Attorney Dale Jackson had sent what he believed to be the final paperwork to the railroad in June. The railroad asked for additional safety measures to be put in place.
Jackson said one option that had been suggested was having someone at the crossings 24 hours a day to flag traffic. He said another option was installing four quadrant crossing systems with four crossing guards. The four quadrant systems can cost between $300,000 and $500,000 each.
Felkins said he does not have any four quadrant systems in his three-state area. He said the Oklahoma Department of Transportation is reluctant to install four-quadrant systems.
"It's a very complicated program. In order to qualify you have to meet the federal safety index," Felkins said.
Board member Jan Miller told Felkins the town thought they had met all the safety requirements. She said board members were getting frustrated with all the delays and the town had already invested money in establishing the quiet zone.
"We thought we had already done everything that needed to be done," she said "We have done everything the railroad has asked us to do and it's still not enough."
Felkins said any safety concerns the railroad expressed during the comment period have to be addressed. Jackson asked Felkins who he needed to work with at the railroad to get the issues resolved.
"You really need to talk to the feds. It's a federally-mandated program," Felkins said.
Jackson said he had spoken with officials in Tulsa who have been working on establishing quiet zones for several years.
"It's their opinion that it's not the feds who are the gatekeepers. It's the railroad," Jackson said.
Board members have requested that a representative from the federal agency come to speak with them at next month's meeting.
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