OKC Police Officer Mentioned In Gambling Indictment

Dana Hertneky, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma City police officer is named in an investigation into an illegal gambling ring.

The officer has not been charged but an indictment says he was involved in illegal activity.

The multicounty grand jury handed up the indictment Friday. It lists 30 counts of gambling and racketeering. It also mentions the Oklahoma City police officer several times for gambling and then failing to pay his debts.

David Tune and C. L. Richards are now facing federal charges for operating an illegal gambling operation. The indictment says Tune ran the gambling site gato21.com. Richards collected the unpaid debts.

Among the customers of the website: Roland Benavides, a Master Sergeant with the Oklahoma City Police Department.

The indictment says Tune "received offers from Roland Benavides to bet on sporting events and other games of chance. Roland Benavides pledged money and other things of value in exchange for said bet."

The indictment says Benavides owed gambling debts and "Tune instructed Richards to threaten, harass and/or vex Roland Benavides and cause him harm if Roland Benavides refused to pay."

News 9 attempted to contact Benavides but he did not answer the door to his Norman home.

Benavides has been placed on administrative leave. After being placed on leave, he sued the city and police department for violating the Family and Medical Leave Act.

News 9 has also learned the multicounty grand jury that questioned David Tune and C.L. Richards also questioned known gambler Teddy Mitchell.

Mitchell's wife, Julie, was killed in November 2010. Police are still searching for her killer.