Epic Charter Schools founders Ben Harris and David Chaney, and former Chief Financial Officer Josh Brock were arrested Thursday by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

They were booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on the following charges: racketeering; embezzlement of state funds; obtaining money by false pretense; conspiracy to commit a felony; violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act; submitting false documents to the state, and unlawful proceeds.

The OSBI investigation began in 2013 at the request of then-Governor Mary Fallin based on a complaint from the State Department of Education of dual enrollment.

A second request was made in 2019 from a state legislator concerned about misappropriation of state funds that were obligated to Epic Blended Learning Centers.

“This has been a very complex and arduous investigation with many roadblocks causing delays in getting to the truth,” Ricky Adams, OSBI director, said. “Harris, Chaney and Brock came up with a ‘get rich quick scheme’ that lined their pockets with tax dollars that were to be spent for the benefit of Oklahoma students. The OSBI criminal investigation unraveled the intricate scheme layer by layer, in spite of a lack of cooperation, legal obstacles and delay tactics.”

A complicated criminal enterprise emerged that allegedly resulted in a cost to the state of Oklahoma in excess of $22 million, Adams said.

“We are grateful for the assistance of State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd and independent private audit agencies that helped with the investigation,” Adams said. Bonds were set at $250,000 for each of the three men.