Former Tulsa oil firm executive charged with wire fraud, tax crimes

Source: Tulsa World, Okla.迷你倉出租Aug. 29--A Tulsa man has been charged with wire fraud on accusations that he embezzled nearly $700,000 from his then-employer by billing the company for the nonexistent services of a consulting firm he created.James Ray Cooley, 45, also is charged with three tax crimes for not reporting the income he purportedly received as a result of the fraud.Cooley was employed as the regional human resources manager for Newfield Exploration Mid-Continent Inc. in Tulsa from September 2007 until January 2011, according to charges filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tulsa this week.In 2008, Cooley incorporated a consulting company, created a website for it and opened a bank account for it, listing himself as the signatory, the charges say.He is accused of claiming that the consulting company "had actually performed services for Newfield when he knew no such services had been performed."The charges allege that Cooley created fal迷你倉e invoices for the consulting firm's nonexistent work and then deposited the payments into the bank account he had created.The charges outline a series of related wire transfers, totaling $693,300, from 2008 through 2010.The prosecution is seeking a money judgment against Cooley in that amount.A tipster called Newfield's ethics hotline to report Cooley, which prompted an internal investigation, Cooley's dismissal and the notification of prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles McLoughlin said.Cooley is charged by an "information" filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office instead of by a grand jury indictment. Cases charged in this manner normally result in guilty pleas.McLoughlin said Cooley faces 37 to 46 months in prison if he pleads guilty.David Harper 918-581-8359david.harper@tulsaworld.comCopyright: ___ (c)2013 Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) Visit Tulsa World (Tulsa, Okla.) at .tulsaworld.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存倉