TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The U.S. Attorney's Office in Muskogee says six people have pleaded guilty after two bribery investigations revealed alleged corruption involving construction of a casino for the Choctaw Nation in Durant.
A statement issued by the office Monday says Lauri Parsons and her husband, Brent Parsons, Cordell Bugg, James Stewart, and Mark Eshenroder were indicted on conspiracy to commit theft or bribery charges.
Allen Franklin, project manager for the tribe, was accused of conspiracy to commit theft or bribery.
The Choctaw Nation said in a statement Monday that a routine audit relating to the casino project found discrepancies from the purchase of steel by one of the companies and eventually revealed the tribe had been overcharged for those purchases.
The tribe said the matter was turned over to federal investigators.