Perryman arrested on federal charges

United States Attorney Thomas Scott Woodward announced that federal arrest warrants were served Thursday, August 28, 2011, in Broken Arrow resulting in the arrest of Sammy Joe Perryman, a/k/a “Sam Perryman.”

Sammy Joe Perryman was charged in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma in an eleven count Indictment. Counts One and Two are arson related charges involving the January 22, 2006, fire that destroyed the Tulsa Athletic Club, located at 5122 South Vandalia Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Count One, a violation of 18 U.S.C.Section 844(h)(1), charges the defendant with knowingly using fire and an explosive to commit mail fraud as described in the Indictment. Count Two, a violation of 18 U.S.C.Section 844(i), charges the defendant with maliciously damaging and destroying, and attempting to damage and destroy, by means of fire and an explosive the Health Club.

Counts Three through Seven, violations of 18 U.S.C. Section 1341, charge with mail fraud related to a false and fraudulent insurance claim that the defendant filed with the Hartford Fire Insurance Company for losses resulting from the fire at the Health Club. The Indictment alleges that the defendant submitted false and misleading information to Hartford concerning the fire, including a false and misleading inventory.

Count Eight charges the defendant with bankruptcy fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section152(1). The Indictment alleges the defendant knowingly and fraudulently concealed the sale of certain property from the Bankruptcy Court, creditors, and the United States Trustee. Counts Nine through Eleven charge the defendant with money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section1957(a). These counts relate to transactions in excess of $10,000 involving transactions at a financial institution with proceeds of the bankruptcy fraud. The Indictment also includes forfeiture allegations concerning the criminal violations.

After his arrest yesterday, the defendant made an initial appearance in the United States District Court in Tulsa at 2:00 p.m., where he was released on a $20,000 bond. A trial date will be set by the Court at a later date.

The prosecution of this case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Gallant.  The investigation was conducted and the arrests were made by law enforcement agents, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Tulsa Fire Department.

A Grand Jury Indictment is one method of charging a defendant with alleged violations of Federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome the defendant’s presumption of innocence.