Bixby Man Swindles California Firm Out of $28K

BIXBY, OKLAHOMA – Wayne Allen Baker, 53, of Bixby, is facing the consequences after pleading guilty to a brazen wire fraud scheme that ripped off a California-based commercial products distributor. The scheme initially targeted over $92,000 worth of goods, but Baker ultimately managed to pilfer products valued at $27,991.01 before getting caught, according to U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Baker, appearing in federal court on Tuesday, admitted to concocting the scheme to defraud the national distributor of plumbing, waterworks, and fire fabrication products. The operation wasn’t about sophisticated hacking or complex financial maneuvers; it was a simple, calculated deception built on a misspelled company name and a series of bogus online orders.

Court documents reveal Baker falsely claimed to represent a Dallas-based corporation, cleverly altering the company’s abbreviation – identified as EMI – with a strategically placed hyphen to make it *appear* legitimate. He then established online accounts with the California firm, posing as EMI’s chief executive officer. This allowed him to place 59 separate internet orders between April 14 and April 28, 2020, directing the stolen merchandise to his Bixby residence and a secondary location in Tulsa.

Baker initially attempted to mask his fraud by making small, bogus online payments, attempting to create the illusion of legitimate transactions. However, the company eventually uncovered the scheme, realizing the payments didn’t match the volume of goods ordered. While Baker attempted to order $92,098.25 worth of product, he only successfully received a portion of his ill-gotten gains.

The investigation, a collaborative effort between the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and the Bixby Police Department, brought Baker’s scheme to light. Now, he’ll have to answer for his actions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is leading the prosecution, promising a full accounting of Baker’s deceit.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves toward sentencing. This isn’t about victimless crime; it’s about a man willing to steal from a legitimate business, impacting their bottom line and potentially harming employees. Baker’s actions demonstrate a callous disregard for the law and a willingness to profit from deception.