Bixby, OK – Wayne Allen Baker, 53, is facing the consequences after pleading guilty to a wire fraud scheme that bilked a California-based commercial products distributor out of nearly $28,000 in goods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma announced the guilty plea Tuesday, detailing a calculated effort to obtain plumbing, waterworks, and fire safety equipment under false pretenses.
Baker’s scheme initially aimed to siphon off over $92,000 worth of products, but investigators were able to halt the fraud before the full amount was stolen. Court records show Baker successfully acquired $27,991.01 worth of merchandise without paying, utilizing a cleverly disguised corporate identity to deceive the California company. The goods were shipped to Baker’s residence in Bixby and a secondary location in Tulsa.
The con revolved around a fabricated affiliation with a Dallas-based corporation, abbreviated as EMI in court documents. Baker subtly altered the company’s name with a hyphen, creating a deceptive variation. He then established online accounts with the California distributor, falsely claiming to be the Chief Executive Officer of this altered EMI entity. Over a two-week period in April 2020 – between April 14th and 28th – Baker placed approximately 59 online orders, masking the fraud with initial bogus partial payments.
While Baker attempted to appear legitimate with these initial payments, the scheme ultimately unraveled. The FBI, alongside agents from the U.S. Secret Service and the Bixby Police Department, launched an investigation that traced the fraudulent orders and exposed Baker’s deception. The investigation revealed a deliberate effort to exploit the company’s online ordering system for personal gain.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella is prosecuting the case, and Baker now awaits sentencing on the charge of wire fraud. The full extent of his punishment remains to be determined, but the guilty plea marks a significant step toward accountability for exploiting a legitimate business. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not released details regarding potential restitution to the California company.
This case underscores the increasing prevalence of online fraud and the dedication of federal agencies to pursue perpetrators, even across state lines. The collaboration between the FBI, Secret Service, and local law enforcement in Bixby highlights the importance of interagency cooperation in combating financial crimes. The investigation serves as a warning to others considering similar schemes: the digital trail is often traceable, and justice will be pursued.
Related Federal Cases
- Wayne Allen Baker, Wire Fraud, Oklahoma 2024 · North Carolina
- Jimmy Wayne Smith, Wire Fraud Scheme, Oklahoma 2023 · Colorado
- Jimmy Wayne Smith, Wire Fraud, Oklahoma 2019 · Texas
- Spencer Wayne Allen, Arson of US Navy Recruitment Center, USVI 2017 · Maryland
- Marco Antonio Ramirez Zuno, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, California 2012 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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