Preliminary hearings began March 25 in the District Court of Oklahoma County in Oklahoma City in a case in which prosecutors claim charter school officials stole millions from Oklahoma taxpayers. Lawyers for the accused say their clients provided education services during the pandemic.
David Lee Chaney and Benjamin Scott Harris are facing one count of racketeering, six counts of embezzlement, two counts each of using a computer system or computer network to execute a scheme to defraud and presenting false claims to the state and one count each of acquiring unlawful proceeds, acquiring unlawful proceeds in excess of $50,000, obtaining money by false pretenses, and money laundering.
