Judge won't modify restitution in Skiatook schools bribery case
BY SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
Friday, July 20, 2012
7/20/12 at 7:48 AM
Tulsa County District Judge Tom Gillert opted Thursday not to modify an order for $657,197 in restitution that a former Oklahoma City vendor and a former Skiatook Public Schools superintendent will pay to avoid prison time.
Rick Enos, 59, who pleaded guilty in May to offering bribes totaling $10,000 to Gary Johnson, the district's former superintendent, was ordered to repay the district $420,606, or 64 percent of the restitution total. Enos also was sentenced Thursday to 10 years of probation.
Johnson, 57, who was convicted of accepting the bribes, was ordered to pay $236,591, or 36 percent of the restitution total.
Johnson was sentenced in June to 15 years of probation.
A state audit found that the school district paid Enos - through his former companies - $570,000 more than it would have paid for custodial supplies and security equipment had it bought them directly.
Enos referred to the school district as his "cash cow," an investigator with the state Auditor and Inspector's Office testified Friday.
"We have worse crimes, but we don't have any more shameful than this," Gillert said.
He said Johnson will have to repay substantially more than he received from the scheme but that he is the one who was the public official.
Johnson's attorney, Rob Nigh, said there is no plan to appeal the ruling.
"Mr. Johnson accepts full responsibility for what happened and wants to do everything he can to make it right," he said.
District Attorney Tim Harris said Enos and Johnson will make monthly payments while they are on probation.
Johnson will pay $1,200 a month and plans to make a $60,000 lump-sum payment this month. Enos will pay $3,000 a month and already has made a $20,000 lump-sum payment.
Both defendants will be under supervision and are subject to being sent to prison if they fail to make the payments or if they commit another crime.
"The students and the taxpayers need to be paid back for the breach of trust," Harris said.
Tulsa County grand jury indictments unsealed in 2010 accused Johnson, who later resigned, of embezzlement and bribery in connection with a state audit that found overspending by the school district for supplies and equipment.
Original Print Headline: Restitution firm in Skiatook fraud case
Susan Hylton 918-581-8381
susan.hylton@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Rick Enos (left) and Gary Johnson: Enos received 10 years' probation and Johnson 15 years in a bribery case involving Skiatook schools' overpaying for custodial supplies
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