Dittman Accused In McMahan Scandal

The chairman of the new Oklahoma Abstractors Board, formed to take oversight of the abstract industry following questions about Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan, is accused of making illegal campaign donations to McMahan.

The accusations naming Randy Dittman of Tulsa are found in federal court records that were unsealed Friday in Muskogee federal court when McMahan and his wife, Lori, appeared to answer allegations in the 9-count indictment against them.

The records also show that abstract company owner Larry Witt is accused of organizing illegal contributions for McMahan's campaign. Witt was a partner in the abstract business with former State Senator Gene Stipe and Steve Phipps.

The Oklahoman's Tony Thornton details the allegations today.

An FBI affidavit, Thornton reports, alleges McMahan turned to Dittman for campaign financing in 2006 after his main money source four years earlier, abstract company owner Phipps, came under investigation. The affidavit includes transcripts of taped conversations between Phipps and Lori McMahan.

Dittman, 51, is no stranger to those who examine campaign finance reports for state officials. Ethics Commission records show he gave McMahan $1,000 in his own name in 2002 and $1,200 in 2003. In 2006, he gave $5,000 to McMahan and Governor Brad Henry, $3,500 to Lt. Governor Jari Askins and $2,000 to Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland. He also donated to legislative candidates and gave $2,200 to Republican Fred Morgan's campaign for Congress, other records show.

Dittman was named to the abstract oversight board by Henry on the recommendation of the Oklahoma Land Title Association and by State Reps. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa and Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, Thornton reports.

Governor Henry's appointees to the board include Gary Ellis of Bartlesville, Matthew B. Hargis of Oklahoma City, and Dittman. Appointees of the Oklahoma Mortgage Broker Association are Gene Seiter of Edmond, and Aubrey Roberts of Oklahoma City.

Henry earlier had appointed Dittman to the Mortgage Broker Advisory Committee of the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit.

Read Thornton's entire account at http://www.newsok.com/.

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