Former Bixby Man Charged with Perjury

MUSKOGEE, OK—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that MICHAEL P. WISNER, II age 40, of Mandeville, Louisiana, formerly of Bixby, Oklahoma, pled guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 and perjury, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1623.

Charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The information alleges that from on or about June 2008 to on or about December 2009 in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendant knowingly and willfully conspired with other persons known and unknown to the United States Attorney, transmitted or caused to be transmitted by means of a wire communication or the United States mail, communication for the purpose to defraud the United States, the state of Oklahoma, and the National Association of Attorneys General of over $2.5 million in taxes and fees on the receipt, possession, sale and distribution of cigarettes under the Master Settlement Agreement, (MSA), all in order to obtain money by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. In addition, the defendant knowingly made false representations while under oath before a grand jury in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the defendant’s guilty plea and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Upon its completion, sentencing will be scheduled. The defendant remains on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Roberts represented the United States.