Owasso State Senator Resigns Leadership Posts

A Republican state senator at the center of an embezzlement investigation at the nonprofit agency where he once worked has stepped down from his leadership positions in the Senate.

Monday, June 8th 2015, 2:04 pm

By: News On 6

Owasso State Senator Resigns Leadership Posts

A Republican state senator at the center of an embezzlement investigation at the nonprofit agency where he once worked has stepped down from his leadership positions in the Senate.

Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman announced Monday that Republican Senator Rick Brinkley of Owasso resigned as assistant majority floor leader, chairman of the Senate Pensions Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is looking into allegations that funds have been misappropriated at the Better Business Bureau in Tulsa, where Brinkley worked for 15 years before he was fired in April.

The BBB alleged in a lawsuit last week that Brinkley embezzled more than $1 million from the organization.

6/5/2015 Related Story: Tulsa Better Business Bureau Files Petition Against Former COO

Brinkley is also a pastor of a Collinsville church. State Senate District 34 includes Owasso, Collinsville, Skiatook, Sperry, Turley and portions of Tulsa.

Brinkley has declined to comment on the allegations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.