Forgery Fiasco! State Rep Ajay Pittman’s Triple-Felony Tailspin

Recent coverage discusses former State Rep. Ajay Pittman pleading guilty in Oklahoma County to conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery in the second degree, and violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act after a scheme involving a forged campaign check and doctored bank records. The Lost Ogle noted that “[t]here’s officially one less corrupt grifter-lawmaker inside the Oklahoma Capitol!”. This case shows how fast Oklahoma forgery charges and related counts can turn an ethics problem into a life-changing criminal case.

Because these allegations grew out of emails, instant messages, and digital documents, the case sits right at the intersection of political life, online conduct, and Oklahoma criminal law. If you work in politics, handle campaign money, or even just move money and documents online, this story should make you pause.

Accused of Conspiracy, Forgery, or Computer Crimes in Oklahoma?

If you’ve been accused of conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery in the second degree, or violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act in Oklahoma, reach out for a free consultation at 405-633-3420 or fill out our secure form.

Quick Background on the Pittman Case

According to the reporting, Pittman already had an Ethics Commission settlement over the misuse of campaign funds. When she fell behind on that agreement, investigators say she and a longtime legislative aide created a fake $2,500 donation check and a doctored bank statement, then sent those documents to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to make it look like new campaign money had arrived to cover what she owed. Messages quoted in the probable cause affidavit describe detailed instructions about how the check and statement should look.

The Attorney General’s office announced that prosecutors filed three felony counts and that Pittman entered guilty pleas the same day. She resigned, accepted a seven year deferred sentence, and agreed to repay money through restitution and civil penalties. That outcome happened in Oklahoma County District Court.

So what do those three charges really mean for someone in your position, and how could a similar case play out for you?

Conspiracy to Commit a Felony in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s general conspiracy law, 21 O.S. § 421, makes it a crime when two or more people agree to commit a crime and one of them takes an overt step to move the plan forward. The agreement itself does not have to be written, and it rarely unfolds in one neat conversation. Text messages, emails, or even a pattern of conduct can give prosecutors the evidence they believe shows a shared plan.

In the Pittman case, the state points to messages where she allegedly asked her aide to alter a check image and add fake entries to a bank statement, then allegedly used those documents with the Ethics Commission. Those steps help prosecutors argue there was both an agreement and overt acts toward a felony goal. In your case, investigators may try to connect every message, file, or meeting to the idea of a “plan,” even when you saw the situation very differently.

Because conspiracy focuses on agreement and intent, you often see it charged alongside another felony. Here, that underlying felony includes second degree forgery and an alleged computer crime. Prosecutors use conspiracy to expand their reach, pull in accomplices, and argue that everyone in the supposed plan carries the same level of blame.

Forgery in the Second Degree and Campaign Documents

The forgery chapter in Oklahoma’s criminal code covers many different kinds of written lies. One key provision, 21 O.S. § 1579, treats the forgery of instruments as forgery in the second degree. Jury instructions on forgery in the second degree also focus on creating or using fake instruments or records with the intent to defraud.

Reports about the Pittman case describe a forged $2,500 “donation” check and a bank statement that appeared to show that money deposited into a campaign account. The Ethics Commission later concluded the check never actually hit the required account. Prosecutors say those documents tried to trick a regulatory body into believing money existed that did not.

In your situation, forgery in the second degree can involve many types of documents. These can include checks, financial statements, receipts, or records that move money or obligations. The critical questions usually involve whether the document was false, whether you knew it was false, and whether you meant to deceive someone to gain a benefit or avoid a loss.

Because these charges fall within a broader family of fraud, forgery, and financial crimes, they connect directly with issues covered on our Oklahoma fraud, forgery, and financial crimes defense page.

Violating the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act

The Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act, including 21 O.S. § 1953, makes it a crime to use a computer, computer system, or computer data in certain ways. Jury instructions for computer crimes explain that the state can proceed under several different theories, including using a computer without authorization, exceeding authorized access, or using a computer to carry out a scheme or artifice to defraud or deceive (OUJI-CR 5-130).

In the Pittman case, investigators say she sent a bank check image by email, directed how it should be altered, and then used that altered check and doctored statement in an Ethics Commission proceeding. That chain of events gives prosecutors a way to argue that computer hardware, networks, and digital files sat at the center of the scheme, not just paper documents.

If you face a similar charge, the state may focus on how you accessed accounts, who controlled the computer systems, and whether you used digital tools to create false records. Even actions that seem simple to you—sending an attachment, exporting a PDF, or editing an image—can become key steps once investigators frame a case under the Computer Crimes Act.

Defenses to Conspiracy, Forgery, and Computer Crime Charges

Even when the headlines look bad, these cases often leave room for defense. First, conspiracy requires an actual agreement to commit a crime and an overt act to carry it out. If you never agreed to break the law, or if your messages show you pushed back, that evidence matters.

Second, both forgery in the second degree and computer crime charges usually turn on intent. You may have believed the document was accurate, or you may have relied on information from someone you trusted. If you lacked intent to defraud or deceive, that weakens the state’s theory.

Third, computer crime cases raise technical questions about authorization and access. Maybe you had permission to use an account or system, or the account belonged to you. Investigators sometimes misunderstand how offices share logins, devices, or cloud storage. That confusion can exaggerate what looks like “hacking” when it was actually routine use.

Finally, evidence collection in these cases can be messy. Agents pull emails, chat logs, phone data, and online records from many sources. Your lawyer can examine how they gathered that material, whether warrants were valid, and whether investigators correctly interpreted the data. Strong motions and negotiation can turn a harsh starting point into a focused resolution, sometimes even a deferred sentence like the one reported in this case.

Key Oklahoma Legal Terms

Conspiracy

Conspiracy means an agreement between two or more people to commit a crime, plus at least one overt act taken by one of them to move that plan forward (OUJI-CR 2-17).

Overt Act

An overt act is any clear step that goes beyond planning or talking and moves the alleged conspiracy closer to completion, even if the crime itself never happens (OUJI-CR 2-18).

Computer Crime

Computer crime includes using a computer, computer system, or computer data without authorization or beyond allowed limits, or using a computer to carry out a scheme to defraud, deceive, or obtain money, property, services, or anything of value through false or fraudulent means (OUJI-CR 5-130).

Oklahoma Conspiracy, Forgery, and Computer Crimes FAQs

What does conspiracy to commit a felony mean in Oklahoma?

In Oklahoma, conspiracy to commit a felony means prosecutors claim you agreed with at least one other person to commit a crime and that someone took a clear step toward that goal. You can face a conspiracy charge even if the underlying crime never finishes.

How serious is forgery in the second degree in Oklahoma?

Forgery in the second degree is a felony in Oklahoma and can bring prison time, fines, restitution, and long term damage to your reputation and career. In some situations, judges and prosecutors may consider a deferred sentence, but that outcome depends on the facts and your history.

What makes something a computer crime under Oklahoma law?

Oklahoma computer crime cases usually involve using a computer or computer data without authorization, exceeding allowed access, or using a computer to carry out a scheme to defraud or deceive. Even routine email and document edits can become evidence if the state claims you used technology to support a fraud.

Can Oklahoma conspiracy and forgery charges arise from texts and emails?

Yes, texts and emails often provide much of the evidence in Oklahoma conspiracy and forgery cases. Investigators may treat message threads as proof of an agreement, instructions, or knowledge that a document was false.

Do Oklahoma computer crime cases always involve sophisticated hacking?

No, many Oklahoma computer crime cases involve everyday technology rather than complex hacking. Simple acts like logging into an account, editing a document, or sending a file can become central when prosecutors claim you used a computer to support a fraudulent scheme.