Curtis Killman
Tulsa World Reporter
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A Pryor couple awaits formal sentencing after a jury found them both guilty of embezzling thousands of dollars in funds linked to a nonprofit addiction recovery program they operated from 2017 to 2023.
Jordan Parker and Vanessa Parker both face up to 18 years in prison and $45,000 in fines when formally sentenced Nov. 10.
A Tulsa County District Court jury on Thursday found the couple guilty of two counts of embezzlement and one count of pattern of criminal offenses following a four-day trial.
Prosecutors alleged Jordan Blake Parker, 40, and his wife, Vanessa R. Parker, 30, embezzled the funds from the nonprofit Reckless Saints of Nowhere.
Jordan Parker was chief executive officer of the nonprofit, while Vanessa Parker was its secretary, according to court documents.
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Prosecutors alleged the Parkers used two donations totaling $600,000 from a Tulsa business to purchase various items for themselves, including a personal vehicle, rent for their home, a timeshare, Star Wars toys and diapers.
The donations were meant to fund the opening of a flight school in Salina for those on work release who were suffering from substance abuse addiction, according to court documents.
Multiple board members of the charity told investigators they were unaware of the purchases and likely would not have approved the spending due to their personal nature, according to court documents.
The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit.
“Embezzling funds that were meant to support addicts recovering from substance abuse is indefensible,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a news release.
“The attorneys, investigators and support staff in my office’s Consumer Protection Unit do a tremendous job ensuring justice in the wake of schemes such as this,” Drummond said. “We will vigorously prosecute those who misuse charitable contributions for personal gain.”
curtis.killman@tulsaworld.com
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Curtis Killman
Tulsa World Reporter
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