Former Oklahoma Commissioner Sentenced to Three Years, $20,000 Fine

Oklahoma County District Judge Susan Caswell formally sentenced former Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher to three consecutive years imprisonment and ordered him to pay a $20,000 fine, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.

Fisher, 66, was convicted Feb. 8 of embezzlement and perjury. The jury deliberated for about two hours after hearing less than two days of testimony. Fisher, who was charged after an investigation by the state’s Multicounty Grand Jury, was accused of depositing a $1,000 campaign contribution into his personal bank account and failing to report receiving the money on his state campaign reports.

“Judges and juries look negatively upon those who misuse and abuse their positions in governement,” Edmondson said. “This type of sentence is evidence of the seriousness of Fisher’s crimes.”

Several cases remain against the former commissioner, Edmondson said.

Fisher has also been charged with one count each of accepting a bribe, filing a false tax return, failure to pay over money to the state, 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.

Fisher is scheduled for trial on the tax evasion case Sept. 11 before Judge Caswell.

“We will continue to investigate and prosecute those who violate the public trust,” Edmondson said. “The people of Oklahoma deserve no less.”

Edmondson’s office administers the Multicounty Grand Jury which convened today for its February session.

Source: Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office

Topics Oklahoma