Friday, January 28, 2011

District Judge Charged With Fraud, Perjury

Oklahoma County District Judge Tammy Bass-LeSure was accused in a felony fraud charge of collecting state funds to care for twins that she secretly gave to her bailiff’s sister.

Bass-LeSure, 43, and her husband, Karlos Antonio LeSure, 46, cheated the state out of public funds for three years, prosecutors allege.

The judge faces 30 counts of making a fraudulent claim and two counts of perjury. Her husband faces two counts of making a fraudulent claim and two counts of perjury. She said Friday at the courthouse the accusations are not true.

Prosecutors allege the judge and her husband contracted with the state to become foster parents of a twin boy and girl in January 2008. They adopted the children in May. The children are now 3.

Prosecutors allege the children actually have been with the sister of the judge’s bailiff since January 2008. The bailiff, Lania Davis, and her sister, identified only as R.E., have not been charged.

The judge has been paid more than $22,000 in public funds already for caring for the children, prosecutors allege. Monthly subsidies continue until the children’s 19th birthdays.

Bass-LeSure first was elected as a district judge 12 years ago and spent most of her time handling criminal cases. She decided to move to probate, guardianship and adoption cases last year after she stepped down from a high-profile murder case against a pharmacist.

Full Article and Source:
Oklahoma County District Judge Charged With Fraud, Perjury

2 comments:

StandUp said...

It's a chance, Oklahoma, to clean up the bench. Don't miss the opportunity!

Latisha said...

I'm telling you, it amazes me that judges would do something like this. Knowing the consequences and still they do this stupid stuff.