Witness against former Oklahoma senator ordered to pay $1.3 million in restitution in bank fraud case

Sam Crosby will have to pay $1,329,362 in restitution to Legacy Bank in Elk City.

Crosby, a Carney rancher, pleaded guilty in 2010 to making a false statement about cattle purchases to the bank to influence a loan. His sentencing was put off until after his testimony last February at Morgan's trial in federal court in Oklahoma City.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange sentenced Crosby, 71, to six months on home detention and ordered him to make the restitution to the bank.

His defense attorney, John Coyle, of Oklahoma City, was pleased with the sentence.

“It's very fair considering his lack of a prior record, his assistance to the government and his significant health problems,” Coyle said. “Sam Crosby is a good man who made a mistake.”

About the restitution, the attorney said, “His goal is to take care of it.”

Jurors in March found Morgan, a Democrat, guilty of accepting $12,000 in bribes from a company owned by Crosby.

The Edmond-based company, Silver Oak Senior Living, operated assisted-living centers.

Crosby's testimony

Crosby told jurors he met with Morgan at the Capitol in May 2006 and asked Morgan for help — possibly legislatively — to get state health officials off his back. He testified Morgan said to him, “This is the way it works: You pay me a $1,000-a-month retainer.”