Tulsa Man Sentenced for Stealing $426, 220 from his Employer

A former American Parking employee was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for defrauding BancFirst and his employer of $426,220.36, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Jerry Albert Wiley, 70, of Tulsa, to 24 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Eagan further ordered restitution be paid to American Parking in the amount of $426, 220.32.

“White collar criminals can devastate small business owners who are vital contributors to our local economy,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “In this case, Defendant Wiley fraudulently stole nearly half a million dollars from his employer, American Parking. What he is learning now is that there are serious consequences for his greed fueled criminal acts.”

In his position as controller at American Parking, Wiley directed authorized funds transfers related to business expenses from the company’s corporate checking account at BancFirst. Starting Jan. 5, 2018, Wiley knowingly abused his position by transferring funds from American Parking’s accounts at BancFirst to accounts owned and controlled by one of Wiley’s acquaintances. The defendant claimed that he lost the funds after sharing them with an online acquaintance to pursue a personal investment opportunity. In return for the investment, Wiley had hoped to receive $100,000,000 from the acquaintance’s supposed inheritance.

The United States argued that Mr. Wiley was not a helpless victim but an experienced, well-educated professional motivated by greed. The prosecution contended that Wiley could have obtained the funds to assist his acquaintance through a number of legal means, but instead knowingly bilked American Parking out of nearly half a million dollars in order to eventually receive a greater payout from the promised “inheritance”.

The FBI conducted the investigation; Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella prosecuted the case.