Freedom Center board opposes activist’s claim to local landmark
Staff Writer bbailey@oklahoman.com
One of the last remaining board members for a nonprofit group that owns an Oklahoma City civil rights memorial says he will seek to have the property taken out of a local activist’s name.
Anthony R. Douglas, president of the Oklahoma NAACP, said he is one of the last surviving board members of Freedom Center Inc., which owns the historic Freedom Center at 2609 N Martin Luther King Ave.
Community activist Michael Washington says he now controls the civil rights memorial and said he wants to raise money to have the property restored.
Douglas said Washington called him a few months ago and asked to become a board member for Freedom Center Inc., but was turned down.
“Then he called me out of the blue saying he owns the Freedom Center,” Douglas said. “He does not own the Freedom Center . ... Nobody knew this had happened.”
On Dec. 1, Washington filled out a form with the Oklahoma Secretary of State to become the registered agent of the nonprofit Freedom Center Inc.
The designation means Washington is authorized to receive the nonprofit’s mail, tax forms and legal documents.
Washington filled out a legal form and paid $25 to have himself designated as Freedom Center Inc.’s new registered agent, according to Secretary of State staff.
The Secretary of State’s office does not verify the information on the form, but it is a legally binding document, staff there said.
The three people who incorporated the Freedom Center Inc. in 1969 are now all dead.
Douglas said he has personally paid to keep the utilities on at the Freedom Center over the years.
Freedom Center Inc. hasn’t been able to do much with the buildingover the past few years because most of the board members have died or are in nursing homes, Douglas said.
There are plans forthcoming to preserve the historic property, but Washington is in no way involved, Douglas said.
The building was the headquarters of the NAACP Youth Council, led by the late civil rights activist Clara Luper. The group led the 1958 sitin at Katz Drug Store in downtown Oklahoma City.
Today, the Freedom Center is in dire need of repairs. The roof leaks and one exterior brick wall is cracked and about to collapse.
Washington still claims he controls the property. He says he does not believe a board for Freedom Center Inc. exists.
“What insignificant board do they have to allow this Freedom Center get into this decrepit state?” Washington said. “I hope we can come to some understanding and not have to go to court over it.” Staff Writer kschwab@oklahoman.com
The owners of an Oklahoma City diabetic supply company have been charged with 115 counts of health care fraud.
Eunja L. Vasquez, 55, and Lawrence Vasquez, 61, both of Edmond, are accused of using their company, Mercy Diabetic Supply Inc., to defraud the Oklahoma Health Care Authority out of $268,796. The company is not affiliated with Mercy Health System, according to Oklahoma City federal prosecutors.
Last week, a federal grand jury indicted the married couple. Jurors allege they unlawfully submitted fraudulent claims for medical supplies not necessary and never provided to Medicaid beneficiaries.
The couple submitted claims for reimbursement for insulin pump supplies for 29 Medicaid beneficiaries who either did not use the pumps in their diabetes treatment or had not been diagnosed with diabetes, according to the indictment.
Jurors also allege Eunja Vasquez falsified medical forms and forged physician signatures as part of the scheme, which occurred between May 2014 and July 2016, according to the indictment.
Both pleaded not guilty last week during their arraignment. Their defense attorney, Jack Dawson, said they are “very well thought of.”
“This is a delightful couple. They’ve never been in any trouble. They’ve been married 30 years,” Dawson said. “They’ve worked hard all their life.”
The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office investigated the case and brought it to Oklahoma City federal prosecutors. On Monday, Attorney General Mike Hunter said his office is dedicated to working with federal prosecutors to pursue individuals and companies committing fraud in the state.
“I commend the attorneys and investigators in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, who worked tirelessly on this case,” Hunter said. “Our office remains committed to fighting fraud, waste and abuse of the state’s Medicaid program that helps vulnerable Oklahomans.”
If convicted, they face up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.