Randy Krehbiel
Tulsa World
State Sen. Rick Brinkley embezzled more than $1 million during his 15 years as president and chief operating officer of the Better Business Bureau of Tulsa, the organization alleges in a lawsuit filed Friday.
The BBB says Brinkley set up corporate entities to receive payments for phony credit card accounts and other alleged business expenses.
The suit, filed in Tulsa County District Court, alleges Brinkley used the embezzled funds to “pay his mortgage, pool cleaner, personal credit card invoices, and to support a hidden gambling habit.”
The matter is also being investigated by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Brinkley’s attorney, Mack Martin of Oklahoma City, said he could not comment because “I don’t know anything.”
Martin said he had not been informed of the suit.
Better Business Bureau attorney Kirk Turner did not immediately return a phone call.
Brinkley, who was in line to become president pro tem of the Oklahoma Senate, is a Collinsville Republican representing north Tulsa. He has been a minister, television producer and consultant to the Miss Oklahoma pageant.
Last week it was revealed Brinkley had written a check for nearly $50,000 to the BBB from his campaign account. Brinkley told the state Ethics Commission he intended to write the check on his personal account.
Friday’s lawsuit said the check was intended to “deceitfully conceal the actual condition of the BBB from its Board of Directors.”
Sounds like a perfect choice continuing a long line of self serving politicians fleecing the people as leaders”.