Former Basic Energy Services Employee Charged with Wire Fraud

OKLAHOMA CITY—Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, announced today that SHANNON LYNN REED, 39, of Norman, has been charged by a federal grand jury with five counts of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to steal money from her former employer, Basic Energy Services, Inc. (“Basic”), of Midland, Texas.

According to the indictment, Ms. Reed was employed by Basic as an administrative coordinator and was responsible for obtaining and renewing registrations for Basic’s fleet of vehicles in Oklahoma. The grand jury has charged her with faxing fraudulent check requests to Basic’s Midland office for amounts that far exceeded the actual invoices from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. In turn, the indictment alleges, Ms. Reed took the inflated checks to the Route 66 Tag Agency in El Reno, Oklahoma, and requested that the overages be refunded to her personally, which they were. According to the indictment, Ms. Reed then deposited these checks into her own bank account and did not return any of the money to Basic. If convicted of these fraud charges, she will be required to forfeit the proceeds, which according to the indictment total $118,932.06.

If convicted on the wire fraud charges, Ms. Reed could be sentenced on each count to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The public is reminded that the indictment is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

These charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the El Reno Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel P. Lennington and Scott E. Williams.

Reference is made to the indictment for further information.