Former state senator's fortune estimated at $27 million

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Federal court records show that former state senator Gene Stipe was worth nearly $27-million when he was sentenced last year. <br/><br/>The longtime senator was sentenced last year

Sunday, February 20th 2005, 2:18 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Federal court records show that former state senator Gene Stipe was worth nearly $27-million when he was sentenced last year.

The longtime senator was sentenced last year for illegally funneling more than $245,000 into a failed 1998 congressional campaign.

Stipe's assets and debts were part of a routine presentence report, but that information is sealed and not available to the public.

But Stipe's report contained errors that his attorneys tried to correct. When they did, the document they used became part of the public record.

A US district judge who sentenced Stipe considered Stipe's wealth during sentencing.

Stipe was ultimately ordered to pay more than $735,000.