Oklahoma Oil Operator Whitaker to Stand Trial on 220 Counts Of Racketeering, Embezzlement And Perjury

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05/07/2007 -- An Oklahoma oil and natural gas operator will stand trial in Oklahoma County District Court on 220 counts of racketeering, embezzlement and perjury, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.

Raymond Dale Whitaker was bound over for trial at a preliminary hearing Friday. He is accused of one count of racketeering, 150 counts of embezzlement exceeding $500, 68 counts of embezzlement exceeding $1,000 and one count of perjury by false certification.

Whitaker was indicted Oct. 19, 2006, by the Multicounty Grand Jury.

Whitaker is accused of misrepresenting the productivity of his oil and gas leases to his partners and keeping the excess funds for his own personal use. He is also accused of filing bogus documents with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The indictment also alleges Whitaker’s actions as a whole constitute a pattern of criminal activity that amount to racketeering.

Whitaker is accused of skimming about $1 million from his partners.

Source: Oklahoma Attorney General