Broken Arrow Men Sentenced for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – Two Broken Arrow residents have been sentenced to federal prison for orchestrating a large-scale wire fraud scheme that defrauded an employee-owned business out of millions of dollars.

Brad William Ritter and Toby Le Mills, both 51, pleaded guilty to one count each of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. On sentencing, Ritter received 41 months in federal prison, while Mills was sentenced to 33 months. Both men were ordered to pay $3,797,500.00 in restitution.

In addition, the court issued several financial penalties:

• A $1,059,958.00 money judgment against Mills.

• Forfeiture of $697,863.67 in seized funds from Ritter.

• A forfeiture money judgment of $2,029,678.33 against Ritter.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

According to court documents, from 2018 through January 2022, Ritter—an executive at the victim company—abused his position to submit fake invoices from a shell company controlled by Mills. The fraudulent invoices claimed payment for services never rendered, enabling the pair to illegally siphon nearly $3.8 million from the company over several years.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater emphasized the broader implications:

“The sentence imposed on these two defendants should serve as a stark reminder that criminal activity motivated by greed comes at a price. The FBI is committed to holding fraudsters accountable.”

Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Dallas Field Office, added:

“Ritter and Mills built a complex scheme of lies to funnel millions from an unsuspecting business. IRS Criminal Investigation agents will continue to track and dismantle such criminal operations no matter how well-hidden they appear.”

U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson praised the investigators and prosecutors:

“The wounds from fraud may not be visible, but the damage is very real. I commend our team for ensuring justice was served.”

The sentencing was overseen by Chief U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White of the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Ritter and Mills will remain free on bond until they self-surrender to U.S. Marshals by June 23, 2025, to begin serving their non-paroleable sentences in a Bureau of Prisons facility.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kara Traster, Joshua Satter, and Clay Compton prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.