Rinehart faces judge's warning Investigations: County commissioner has until Aug. 15 to provide documentation to IRS Personal, corporate taxes are focus of federal inquiry. Rinehart faces judge's warning
The IRS had sought to have Rinehart fined and jailed for failing to cooperate in an ongoing probe into his personal and corporate tax returns from 2003 to 2005.
U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton rejected the government's request to hold Rinehart in civil contempt.
But Heaton warned the controversial commissioner to hand over all available 2003 records for his company, Unta Bent Inc., to the IRS.
The judge said he would impose appropriate sanctions against Rinehart without another hearing if a report due Aug. 15 indicates he has not cooperated with IRS investigators.
Rinehart maintains he has provided investigators with all of the records in his possession.
He has balked at answering some questions posed by an investigator from the IRS small business division, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Heaton said Thursday that concern is warranted since Rinehart is the target of other ongoing investigations.
Rinehart, who lost Tuesday in his bid for a second term as commissioner, is awaiting a September trial on campaign finance charges.
He also has been investigated by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation because of a bridge project thought to benefit a contributor.
His attorney, Stephen Jones of Enid, said Rinehart recently discovered the FBI is investigating him as well. He saw a copy of a federal grand jury subpoena while visiting with his banker.
"It involves allegations of money laundering, bribery and so forth,” Jones said.
Rinehart has maintained he has done nothing wrong.
Contempt charge is possible
Rinehart has about 10 days to turn over corporate tax records to the IRS.
Heaton ordered Rinehart to surrender any 2003 tax records for Unta Bent Inc. to federal investigators by Aug. 11 or submit a sworn statement indicating that the requested documents do not exist or are in the hands of another government agency.
The judge said he would find Rinehart in civil contempt of court, as requested by government attorneys, if a report due Aug. 15 indicates he did not comply with his order.
Rinehart, who runs a heating and air conditioning company, has been under investigation by the IRS since November 2006.
The federal tax agency is seeking personal and corporate records from 2003 through 2005. It turned to Heaton in November, alleging Rinehart had refused to comply with two IRS summonses.
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Jeania - Do you have any actual facts or are you just spewing what you have heard? Rinehart's biggest problem was "does not play well with others." He was looking out for the citizens of Oklahoma County. I do not agree with everything he has said and done while in office; however, the roads in his district are in the best shape they have ever been. I have lived in this area through 7 or 8 County Commissioners and can make that statement with confidence. I currently live in District 1 (Roth's former district and Johnson's current district). I have not been able to get the county to take care of the right of way in front of my house (I have been trying for 3 years now). Rinehart took care of the right of way in front of my mother's house within a week or 2 after learning of the problem. He even went so far as to check back with us regarding the problems. Yes, a personal phone call from the Commissioner. Can't get past the first person to answer the phone in District 1.
Are you kidding Rinehart was in it for Rinehart from the get go he had his own agenda he has been on a head hunting expo since he took office Brent Rinehart is one of the good ol boys he states to hate so much it is just his good ol boys are mostly idiots and or criminals
Say what you will about Mr. Rinehart, but he did fight for the people and his lose was political. Yes, he was rough and made mistakes, but who hasn’t. From day one, your AG (Attorney General to those of you with a high school education) Mr. Edmondson has made it clear, Mr. Rinehart was not among his chosen, who he could bestow his blessings on from his Ivory Tower. Then we have Mr. Don Garrison, who is in charge of Jail’s. If this man’s IQ had been two points lower, he would have been a plant. Next, we have the Sheriff of OKC. Sheriff Weasel who walks around talking to himself, muttering, “Duh look at me, I’m a sheriff, I carry a gun”, but no one knows that the one bullet, is in his shirt pocket, and his nickname is, “Barney”. Last we have DA Prater and his beginning lawyers. Their all still in school, trying to learn such things as, What is evidence, what is chain of command, Maranda, and how to keep from going to court, if we can threaten, bully or harass people into a confession or is it an admission? The chain of command is simple, for these obtuse men. Edmondson, Garrison, Weasel, and then Prater. If the head, Edmondson, turns to fast, the next in line will break his neck, thus continuing down the line. This is why the Oklahoma Justice system moves so slow. The chain can not be broken, and why I think Mr. Rinehart will prevail.
It is good to know he is about to be served by a letter by the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. That means a very long drawn out legal battle with the good old U.S. of A. The F.B.I moves at a snails pace with methodical steps and procedures. Reinhart is only getting started down a very long and expensive road. I predict he will probably wind up in chapter 7 bankruptcy before its all done with. Maybe he will stiff Jones on attorney's fees like O.J. did with his attorneys. They got O.J. off on a murder charge yet he had to tell them he was broke when it was done. He had already filed bankruptcy and they got pennies on the dollar. Problem for Reinhart is that you cannot file bankruptcy on the IRS. My guess is that he will be in club Fed by summer of 2010.
Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart leaves the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Associated Press
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.