Bar Association: Tulsa Police Investigating Former Attorney

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has approved Tulsa attorney Robert Nichols' resignation from the Oklahoma Bar Association. On Tuesday, his name was stricken from rolls of attorneys, court records show.

The Tulsa Police Department's financial crimes unit is considering recommending criminal charges against Nichols, according to the OBA's general counsel. 

Nichols can be reinstated on these conditions: he has to wait five years; he has to pay back the client security fund, controlled by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which pays back his alleged victims and he must also pay about $6,100 – the cost for the OBA general counsel to get transcripts, pay for witnesses to travel for his “emergency interim suspension hearing” from the OBA.

Once considered one of the top attorneys in Tulsa, Nichols is now being investigated for accusations that he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from clients over a number of years.

10/20/2015 Related Story: OK Attorney Accused Of Stealing Money Submits Resignation To Bar

His assets are frozen while the Oklahoma Bar Association investigates him for running what the general counsel calls a Ponzi scheme.

Nichols is accused of settling a case, keeping the client's settlement check and cashing it for himself. Then, when another case is settled, paying back the previous clients and keeping the remaining money. One former client said Nichols faked his signature on an almost $200,000 settlement check and cashed it.

An affidavit details five other cases in which the bar association is investigating Nichols for keeping clients’ money.

The OBA general counsel would not say whether it is also investigating Nichols' law partner, Brian Curthoys whose assets have also been frozen.

We have not yet reached Nichols' attorney for comment.