OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma City charity fired its founder and director, charging him with taking bribes and kickbacks, officials said.
Larry Jones, who is suing the board of directors of Feed the Children, a $1 billion-per-year Christian relief organization, seeks reinstatement of his position, the Oklahoman reported Tuesday.
The charges come on the heels of earlier accusations that Jones secretly had microphones installed in the ceilings of three executives' offices, the newspaper said.
Lawyers for the board of directors told a judge while clearing out Jones's office, officials found other evidence of Jones's "misdeeds, acts of dishonesty (and) use of position for personal gain."
Police investigated Jones after a private investigator found remnants of wiretapping devices in August. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said, however, he will not charge Jones, as there was not sufficient evidence the wiretaps were placed to record any more than Jones's conversations.
Jones said he asked a supplier for assistance with his legal fees pertaining to his wiretap dispute with the board, but he does not believe that amounted to requesting a kickback.
"I explained to a vendor that I needed help. If he knew anybody who could help me I'd sure appreciate it. He took it the wrong way. I said, 'Do you want to help me or do you know anybody?' He said he couldn't help me."
