Charged attorney taken into custody

By JARREL WADE World Staff Writer - 11/6/2009


A Tulsa attorney was jailed Friday on charges accusing him and another man of racketeering, conspiracy and embezzlement that resulted in more than $1.1 million being swindled from clients.

Fred M. Schrader, listed as Schraeder on the original charges, was booked into Tulsa Jail Friday morning. The other man named in the charges, William J. Anton, was arrested and booked Thursday.

Anton posted $124,000 in bond and was released Friday morning; Schrader posted $60,000 in bond and was released Friday evening.

Prosecutors allege that Schrader and Anton, formerly a Tulsa attorney, embezzled multiple clients' personal injury and life insurance settlements and workers compensation benefits during a five-year period.

One count alleges that more than $250,000 was stolen from a single client.

"Numerous times, we allege, the pair would settle a claim without a client's knowledge or consent and then forge the client's signature on settlement and benefit checks," Attorney General Drew Edmondson said in a Thursday news release announcing the charges.

Prosecutors allege that Anton embezzled slightly more than $1 million from clients.

Anton surrendered his law license in 2007 but continued to practice illegally, the Attorney General's Office alleges.

Prosecutors say Schrader helped Anton embezzle approximately $155,000 or more.

The men together or individually face 53 counts.

Both face one count of racketeering and conspiracy.

Anton is also charged with 39 counts of embezzlement, five counts of uttering a forged instrument and three counts of workers compensation fraud. Schrader's charges include eight counts of embezzlement, four counts of uttering a forged instrument and three counts of workers compensation fraud.

"The majority of the funds Anton and Schrader are accused of stealing were intended to benefit Oklahomans who had been injured, whether on the job or in some type of accident," said Edmondson, whose Workers Compensation and Insurance Fraud Unit has statewide jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute such cases.



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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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oldrustytulsa, Tulsa (11/6/2009 9:59:57 PM)
According to Ol Ben Franklin, Lawyers are the scum of the earth.And he did know what he was talking about.

FUTURE WORLD, Tulsa (11/6/2009 10:16:57 PM)
These guys are scum but, most attorney's are great people. They just specialize in the application of law. If we don't like their practice then we simply change the law.

Ignatz, A nice place where Democrats hold every office in the County. (11/6/2009 9:46:20 PM)
imightbe...have you sought treatment for your mental disorder? Having all that insane hatred for people smarter than you who care about others must knot up your stomach.

THESMOKEHOLE, Tulsa (11/6/2009 10:39:15 PM)
Thou shalt not steal!

imightbewrong, tulsa (11/6/2009 9:39:49 PM)
Is that not the definition of a Liberal. Take money from people that have it and give it to people so they don't have to work for it????? Surely you Libs won't see any wrong in this. Think about it. Those people didn't need all that money. They should have it taken from them and given to other people who need it because of laziness. Just saying.

imightbewrong, tulsa (11/7/2009 1:09:53 AM)
It is not insanity to question why people who succeed must hand over their money in an attempt to pad the wallets of sloths. Entitled is the only thing welfare mooching scum feel. They do not feel guilt for not working. They do not feel emasculated for getting a FREE check from the government. They really do not feel pride. It is a sad day when 28 year old mothers are "learnin" their progeny how to get pregnant and collect "free" money. I must say that I fear for your sanity in regards to your comment about smarter people who care about others. It is not care that motivates a politician to set up entitlement programs. It is nothing but a vote getting device. Who are they going to vote for, a person that will "print" money for them or someone that is going to actually make them work for it? There are actually people out there who deserve A LITTLE help until they get back on their feet. But there are thousands in Tulsa that turned it in to a LIFESTYLE. They are the people that I do not care for. I started working on my families farm at age 7. I have held a full time job ever since (30 years) even while attending college. Make people interview for jobs and if they are not presentable in order to ensure that they do not get a job, then take away their charity. Make them take drug tests. You fail, no charity. If a job is offered to them and they decline, no charity. Not the rantings of a lunatic. Just someone with a good set of morals and standards. Good day.

Corvetteguy, Tulsa (11/7/2009 11:48:39 AM)
FUTURE WORLD, "These guys are scum but, most attorney's are great people." Agreed, but I probably wouldn't have used the word "most". I keep thinking of one with the initials of "C.B.", who loves getting guilty criminals off. It stokes his huge ego.



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