FBI Searches Offices Of Gene Stipe

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- FBI agents Wednesday searched the offices of former state Senator Gene Stipe and his accountant.<br/><br/>Agents were seen taking at least two computers from Stipe's office

Wednesday, March 7th 2007, 3:17 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- FBI agents Wednesday searched the offices of former state Senator Gene Stipe and his accountant.

Agents were seen taking at least two computers from Stipe's office in McAlester.

The search was announced Wednesday morning during a court hearing in a lawsuit between Stipe and his former business partner, Steve Phipps.

The FBI is investigating Phipps and his businesses which received nearly $3 million in state money.

Phipps' attorney said in court the FBI is also looking at Stipe and his role in a pet food plant owned which is owned by Phipps and is under investigation.

The letter from the U.S. attorney's office in Muskogee tells the attorney not to question or subpoena records from Stipes' accountant, Greg Shores, because of the search warrants.

A manager for one of Stipes' businesses says no one will have any comment on the search.