Oklahoma contractor pleads guilty to racketeering, embezzlement charges

An Oklahoma contractor who took more than $190,000 from Oklahoma residents in exchange for construction projects he never completed pleaded guilty today to racketeering and embezzlement charges. Michael Hanson, 43, was charged with one count of racketeering, 29 counts of felony embezzlement and three counts of misdemeanor embezzlement.

His plea is the result of an investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit. The probe began in November 2021 after nine complaints were received from victims. Twenty-three additional victims eventually came forward.

“Our investigation put a stop to Hanson’s corrupt business dealings across multiple Oklahoma counties,” said Attorney General Gentner Drummond. “I greatly appreciate the work the attorneys and others in the Consumer Protection Unit put into this case to bring it to a successful completion.”

Under the plea agreement, Hanson will serve a 20-year prison sentence, including 12 years for racketeering and eight years for the additional embezzlement counts.

Hanson used his company, Leaders Construction LLC, to solicit customers who needed concrete or fence work. He required partial payments up front and then failed to complete the projects or refund the payments. In all, Hanson fraudulently pocketed approximately $192,538 from homeowners.

The Attorney General’s office investigation was assisted by the Edmond Police Department and Logan County Sheriff’s Office.

Drummond encourages anyone who believes they may have been a victim of contractor fraud to contact the Consumer Protection Unit at 1-833-6811895 or at www.oag. ok.gov/consumer-protection.