FBI investigating businessman in OG&E case

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A federal grand jury is meeting this week in connection with an investigation involving a businessman and employees of the state's largest utility.<br/><br/>The FBI is investigating

Tuesday, July 5th 2005, 9:45 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A federal grand jury is meeting this week in connection with an investigation involving a businessman and employees of the state's largest utility.

The FBI is investigating whether the businessman -- Jim Newton of Oklahoma City -- treated Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company workers to casino stays and expensive gifts as kickbacks in an alleged phony billing scheme.

OG&E says five of its workers stayed at the Gold Strike Casino Resort near Tunica, Mississippi, at Newton's expense.

But Newton denies wrongdoing. His attorney, Irven Box, specifically denies that Newton gave kickbacks to the workers or sent in phony bills.

OG&E has sued Newton's company, Terra Tech, over alleged fraudulent bills. Terra Tech did more than $11.4-million in work for OG&E before being fired in 2003.