Former Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher, his former assistant, Opal Ellis, and the Fisher Foundation have been ordered to stand trial on all counts against them in Oklahoma County District Court.
Oklahoma County Special Judge D. Fred Doak issued the ruling this week after receiving evidence over 11 months in eight different cases concerning Fisher, Ellis and the Fisher Foundation.
Fisher, Ellis and the Foundation were initially charged Feb. 11, 2004, after an investigation by the state’s Multicounty Grand Jury. Fisher is now named in a total of five cases on eight charges. Ellis is named in five cases on 11 charges and the Fisher Foundation is named in one case containing three charges.
Fisher and Ellis are charged with one count each of failure to pay over money to the state between April 1999 and March 2003.
Fisher, Ellis and the Fisher Foundation are accused of one count each of failure to register a non-exempt charitable organization, failure to report contributions to a non-exempt charitable organization and failure to provide and keep a copy of written receipts for charitable contributions.
Ellis is also charged with one count of embezzlement or failure to pay money over to the state, one count of co-mingling state finances with personal finances, one count of embezzlement and four counts of making a false claim against the state.
Fisher is also charged with one count each of accepting a bribe, embezzlement or failure to pay money over to the state, perjury and filing a false tax return.
The court also entertained argument regarding the jurisdiction of the Multicounty Grand Jury. Doak found the Multicounty Grand Jury does have jurisdiction to investigate the cases pending concerning Fisher, Ellis and the Fisher Foundation.
“We were convinced that the evidence would support the allegations in this case, and we are pleased that the judge agreed,” Attorney General Drew Edmondson said. “Assistant Attorney General Joel-lyn McCormick and her staff are to be commended for the hard work they have put into this case.
“We are also pleased with Judge Doak’s ruling on the Multicounty Grand Jury’s jurisdiction. The Multicounty Grand Jury is a vital tool for law enforcement.”
If convicted on all counts, Fisher could be facing a maximum of 51 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $76,500. Ellis could face maximum of 74 years in prison and fines totaling $17,000. A court could also assess restitution.
The cases are now scheduled for a pre-trial hearing at 9 a.m., Aug. 5 in Oklahoma County District Court before Judge Susan Caswell.
Topics Oklahoma
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