Consumer Watch: Oklahoma Hunting Guide Charged With Deceptive Practices

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A hunting guide from Broken Arrow was charged with deceptive trade practices for allegedly cheating hunters out of more than $75,000.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt said James Adam Jenkins was arrested on Tuesday after being charged in Tulsa County with three counts of unfair or deceptive trade practice in violation of the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act.

Prosecutors say Jenkins solicited money over the Internet and in magazines from at least three hunters to schedule, outfit and lead deer, elk and quail hunts in western Oklahoma and Colorado. Several hunters complained that Jenkins accepted their money but cancelled the hunts without refunds.

"I don't want revenge. Revenge would be swift and sweet. I want justice," said George Bendele.

George Bendele was one of several hunters News 9's Amanda Taylor spoke to who paid thousands for a guided hunt in northern Oklahoma. Some said Jenkins put them on land he didn't even own and they were kicked off for trespassing.

But Bendele recalled the downright dangerous position he found himself in.

"They pushed down some grass, took fold out chairs from Walmart and stuck it in the ground. That was our blind," Bendele said.

He sat in his makeshift blind waiting for the sun to rise.

"The sun comes up and I'm like ‘Oh my god!' I'm literally waving, another orange vest, another orange vest," Bendele recalled. "I can see - literally see five of my hunters and I'm going this is crazy! If a deer comes out here we're going to be shooting at each other."

The hunters all say refunds were promised but never received.

The News 9 Consumer Watch Team told Bendele and other hunters to file a complaint with the state attorney general, and that's what it took to get the justice they had been looking for.

Besides the three felony charges, Pruitt said more charges may be filed.

"I got goose bumps. I'm not kidding you. I don't get them lately," Bendele said.

If you've been scammed, besides letting the News 9 Consumer Watch Team know, you need to contact Oklahoma's Attorney General and file a complaint. Typically, the more complaints they get about a particular individual or company, the more likelihood the AG's Public Protection Unit will investigate.

This was the case after News 9 aired a story about this hunting guide who's accused of taking hunters on bogus trips. The AG is still building his case on this one, so if you have been scammed by A.J. Jenkins (AKA Jim, James, Adam), file a complaint immediately with the AG's Office.