OSBI arrests Epic Charter Schools founders, former chief financial officer

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests of Epic Charter Schools founders and the school's former chief financial officer on a series of complaints.

A news release says authorities arrested founders Ben Harris and David Chaney as well as former CFO Josh Brock around 10 a.m. Thursday. They were booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on complaints of racketeering, embezzlement of state funds, obtaining money by false pretense, conspiracy to commit a felony, violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, submitting false documents to the state and unlawful proceeds.

OSBI officials said its investigation started in 2013 after a request from then-Gov. Mary Fallin. The request was based on a complaint from the Oklahoma State Department of Education about dual enrollment.

OSBI said in the news release that it received a second request in 2019 from a state legislator concerned about misappropriation of state funds that were obligated to Epic Blended Learning Centers.

Read more: https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-epic-charter-schools-former-cfo-arrested/40396068