Oklahoma Ping!
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Posted on 02/08/2008 8:28:42 AM PST by OKSooner
A former Oral Roberts University accountant says the school's now dissolved Board of Regents funneled a billion dollars through the university.
The suit names Oral Roberts University, Oral Roberts Ministries, Richard and Lindsay Roberts, as well as 25 of the university's former board of regents.
A former Oral Roberts University accountant says the school's now dissolved Board of Regents funneled a billion dollars through the university. The News On 6's Carina Sonn reports the accountant claims he was fired for knowing too much.
The schools former senior accountant Trent Huddleston first filed a suit last November. Now Huddleston has amended that lawsuit after claiming to have confirmation of the billion dollar scandal.
Huddleston's attorney is Gary Richardson. Richardson says his client had access to all kinds of accounts and one of them was used to funnel more than one billion dollars a year through the university.
Huddleston says he doesn't know where the money came from or where it went, but he was fired just before a scheduled audit. The lawsuit says it appears the former regents participated by funneling the money for their personal use.
The suit names Oral Roberts University, Oral Roberts Ministries, Richard and Lindsay Roberts, as well as 25 of the university's former board of regents.
ORU has denied the claims. Spokespersons have said the lawsuit has, "no basis in fact" and is, "grounded in fantasy." But, they also add, the new board of trustees is committed to resolving any lawsuits brought against the old administration.
That billion dollar claim is broken down to more than $80 million a month. According to filings with the IRS, that's more than ORU earned or spent in an entire year.
Oklahoma ping?
If the ORU board was using the university as a money-laundering scheme, it seems to me that they should be facing criminal charges, rather than a lawsuit like this one....
I bet Mr. Hobby Lobby is feeling used right about now.
Not knowing any more about it than what I read in this article, I have to say that I don’t know... except maybe his job back?
Apparently something has been going on at ORU and for some reason changes have been made.... Do you have any info on these events?...... Thanks
Oklahoma Ping!
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BTTT
I think it's fair to say that ORU has always had a certain character that's unique to some Protestant churches. For over 20 years they've been in the second generation of autocratic, inbred leadership from the same family.
Things have started to give within the last year, but what's going to come home to roost no one knows.
I will go so far as to say that IMO poor ol Richard Roberts was just born into a certain situation, grew up a certain way and now finds himself in way over his head. He's been doing business with some real shysters and letting it pass for normal. Just MHO...
Thanks...... Over the years ORU and Oral Roberts had a good reputation I thought but I’ve not followed them closely at anytime. I guess as the dynasty changes hands and new leaders come in it is often times the case where they do get in over their heads.... Agains thanks for your response.
That’s what I’m thinking, too. Hate to see him get mixed up with this bunch, when he was an outsider to it. But, I do admire his willingness to try to solve the problem, for the sake of church schools and the state of OK.
Heaven knows, the Greens’ wealth includes a large amount of my own money spent there and a small amount at Mardel, too, when I lived down the street.
Oral got a whole lot of my late grandmother’s money, oh so many years ago, too. One of the Roberts sons had always been a problem to his family, but I’m not sure if it was Richard or if there was another one. I think two have died and one was a suicide.
Anyway, I’m not surprised at all this, but it is too bad for Mart Green to get sucked into it, IMO.
Here’s a few links regarding the Board.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071211_1_A15_hCref18322
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Former_Oral_Roberts_University_Regent_member_speaks_out
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299761,00.html
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/19735/oral-roberts-university-14
We’re looking at a billion dollars a year here. Whatever the truth is, that kind of money will keep it hidden until long after you and I are buried. Of that I am quite confident.
Mr. H.L. is a friend of mine. He’s a wise and Godly man. Be kind with your comments. He has done nothing to deserve negative ones.
I was not attempting to disparage him in any way.
What he did was a good and noble deed.
At worst, maybe naive.
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