DUNCAN — A Stephens County man waived his preliminary hearing and is set to go to trial for allegations he stole more than $1 million from a business co-owned by an Oklahoma State Representative.
On Friday, Darren Wayne Alaniz, 38, of Duncan, waived his hearing and is scheduled for formal arraignment at 9 a.m., Nov. 21, for six counts of embezzlement, records indicate. Each count is punishable by up to eight years in prison and fines up to $10,000 per count, as well as restitution.
Alaniz is accused of committing the crimes while employed with Philtek Services between 2017 and July 2022. The business is co-owned by State House District 51 Rep. Brad Boles and Kris Boles.
Alaniz received unauthorized W-2 payments from the company totaling $1,291,290.67, according to the warrant affidavit.
On June 2, 2017, Alaniz’s first paycheck was deposited in a bank account. He then added another bank account with a different number to his employee profile and his first paycheck was deposited in it in December 2018, the affidavit states. While at the company, Alaniz was paid various combinations of regular pay, bonus, per diem, mileage pay and expense reimbursements.
Rep. Brad Boles received an email from Alaniz on Sept. 6, 2022, in which Alaniz said he would be able to pay Boles back in part with $300,000 pending the sale of the Bray Store as well as $100,000 per year after that, according to the affidavit. Alaniz also proposed that he would apply for a $1.5 million life insurance policy on himself with Boles as the beneficiary, according to the affidavit.
Alaniz has been free on $25,000 bond since his initial court appearance on Sept. 5, 2023.
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