Defendant: Bribes needed to keep Skiatook contract
BY RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer
Thursday, February 14, 2013
2/14/13 at 8:01 AM
An attorney for a man who was convicted in federal court of hiding income derived from bribes said the vendor's "pressure to compete for and keep a contract with Skiatook Public Schools created a 'pay for play' atmosphere," documents show.
Stan Monroe filed the sentencing memorandum last week on behalf of his client, Rick Enos of Oklahoma City, who, along with co-defendant Gary Johnson, pleaded guilty in October to one count of "conspiracy to defraud the United States and to corruptly solicit, accept, give and offer things of value," from May 2004 to July 2010, records indicate.
Enos, through his attorney, has asked for probation at his sentencing, which is scheduled for Feb. 22.
A former superintendent for the Skiatook school district, Johnson last week was handed a 12-month, 1-day prison term on the federal count.
During the course of the conspiracy, federal prosecutors said, Johnson failed to perform his fiduciary responsibilities as a public official as they related to the procurement of supplies, equipment and services. As a result, Enos reportedly profited substantially as he overbilled the district, submitting invoices to Johnson that were as much as 400 percent more than fair market value.
Johnson, 57, would approve payments by Skiatook schools for the overbilled invoices and, in exchange, would accept things of value, including cash, tickets to college football games and the costs of travel, food, lodging and entertainment from Enos, prosecutors said.
"From the inception of his misconduct, Mr. Enos allowed his desire to maintain that business relationship to overcome his moral, ethical and legal judgment," Monroe wrote. "Mr. Enos is sincerely remorseful for his actions and wishes to attempt to rectify his crime by repaying, in full, the Skiatook Schools."
In state court, Enos, 60, pleaded guilty last year to offering bribes totaling $10,000 to Johnson while Johnson was Skiatook's superintendent. Enos was sentenced to 10 years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $420,606.
Johnson pleaded guilty in Tulsa County District Court to four counts of accepting cash bribes and was sentenced in June to 15 years of probation. He was ordered to pay $236,591 in restitution.
Enos also operated E&E Tax Services, through which he prepared and submitted Johnson's individual federal income tax returns for certain years, reports show.
In March 2009, Enos prepared Johnson's 2008 federal income tax return, knowing that the cash kickbacks paid to Johnson weren't included as income on the return, prosecutors said.
In calling for probation, Monroe asks the court to consider several factors, including Enos' state court probation and his ongoing restitution payments. Monroe also points out that, unlike Johnson, Enos was not a public official or someone entrusted with the public's trust.
Enos' federal sentencing was moved from Feb. 7 because a death in his family prevented federal probation officials from meeting with him to complete a presentencing investigation, documents show.
Original Print Headline: Defendant: Bribes needed to keep Skiatook contract
Rhett Morgan 918-581-8395
rhett.morgan@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Rick Enos: In October, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government for his role in a school district bribery case.
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