The Joplin Globe
Thursday, May 16, 1996
Sheriff faces 12 counts
By Gary Garton
Globe Baxter Springs Bureau
Miami, Okla. – A 12-count federal indictment issued Wednesday accuses the Ottawa County sheriff of extortion, aiding and abetting illegal gambling, and obstructing justice in the county over a period of two years.
James Edward “Ed” Walker, 48, is expected to appear voluntarily at 3 p.m. today in the U.S. District Court in Tulsa on the charges.
Stephen Knorr, Tulsa, Walker’s court-appointed attorney through the federal public defender’s system said Wednesday an innocent plea would be entered at the initial appearance.
U.S. Attorney Steve Lewis said no determination had been made about what bond amount he would request for Walker on the charges.
The indictment lists five counts of extortion affecting interstate commerce; four counts of aiding and abetting the operation of illegal commercial gambling businesses, and three counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice, in preventing the enforcement of state gambling laws.
Walker is accused of extorting money from the operators of companies distributing machines used in illegal gambling activities, aiding and abetting the use of the macines in Ottawa County clubs, and conspiracy to obstruct the enforcement of state gambling laws.
Also named in the indictment are the owners of the companies distributing machines used in the alleged gambling conspiracy in Ottawa County.
They are Hubert East, 73, and his son Steve East, 31, owners of Merchant’s Music Co., Commerce, Okla.; Lawrence F. “Buddy” Brumback, owner of Tri-State Music at Ketchum, Okla.; and George W. Roberts, 64, and Michael W. Roberts, 34, owners of Ozark Amusement Co., Neosho, Mo.
Lewis said they will make voluntary appearances on the charges at a later date.
According to the first five counts of the indictment, Walker obtained payments of money from the vendors, “by use of threat, or fear of economic harm…. through his official position as sheriff of Ottawa County.
The indictment alleges Walker aided and abetted the vendors in conducting an illegal gambling business in the county, also naming Edwin “Tubby” Mercer of Monkey Island and Charles “Chuck” Newkirk of Oronogo, Mo.
The final counts allege Walker conspired with the East, Brumback and the Roberts to prevent enforcement of state gambling laws, with the vendors “agreeing to pay part of the net profits from the operation of illegal gambling devices at certain locations in Ottawa County to Sheriff Walker…. to induce the sheriff not to enforce the laws of the state.”
Lewis said the five extortion counts each carry maximum prison sentences of 20 years, while all the other counts carry maximum sentences of five years each.
The U.S. attorney’s statement also lists the dispositions of cases involving persons already indicted or who have accepted plea bargains prior to indictment in the investigation of illegal gambling in the county.
They include Joe Erwin, 46, owner of Joe’s Place at Commerce; Donald Dee Hogan, 58, and Judith A. Hogan, owners of Hatties Bar at Commerce; Warren Osborn, owner of Westside Bar at Commerce; and Eveline Lammey, a club employee, all set for sentencing on plea bargains.
Scheduled for jury trials in federal court, and their trial dates, are: Michael O’Brien, 51, Dorothy O’Brien, 25, owners of the Blue House at West Seneca, Okla., trial on May 28; Rose Stephens, 47, owner of the Longbranch Saloon, Quapaw, July 9; and John McDoulet , owner of the Lighthouse Supper Club, Ketchum, May 20.
Charged by information with conducting an illegal gambling business Wednesday were Barbara Bluejacket, 55, and Walter Bluejacket, 50, owners of Kelly’s Café at Wyandotte.
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