Holden
Ricki Joe Holden, 56, of Tulsa was hired to rebuild a downtown Sallisaw business after a fire on May 19 destroyed one building and caused damage to the two adjacent buildings.
After signing a contract on June 10 and being paid nearly 80 percent of the cost to complete the remodeling job, Holden allegedly has still not completed the remodeling of Padgett’s Barber Shop nor paid sub-contractors he hired.
A report was filed on Jan. 12 about Holden with the Sallisaw Police Department. Holden could be facing fraud or false pretense charges according to the police report.
Detective Sandra Gardner is investigating the allegations against Holden. Ryan Wyrick, Sequoyah County assistant district attorney, said he is aware of the situation but due to the ongoing investigation the police report has not made it to the district attorney’s office for review.
Holden hired several sub-contractors to do work on the barbershop and each sub-contractor completed the work they were hired to do, but were allegedly never paid by Holden. Now, the sub-contractors are placing mechanic liens against the building according to the police report.
One lien placed on the building was by Arkansas Glass and Mirror Co. of Fort Smith Ark., who were hired by Holden to replace the windows. Holden paid 25 percent down and never paid the remaining amount of $4,226, according to lien documents.
Another lien placed on the building was by VR Electric LLC out of Tulsa that was also sub-contracted by Holden to do improvements. Again Holden paid 25 percent down and left a remaining balance of $9,750, according to lien documents.
Jessie Holman who was hired by Holden to do demolition, framing, sheet rock, roof repair, and odor control placed a lien on the building Aug. 24. According to court records, Holden owed Holman $13,000 for the work Holman completed. A release of lien was issued on Oct. 14 from Holman.
Investigators with the Sallisaw Police Department discovered Holden has a history of alleged fraud. According to the report, Holden was charged on Feb. 13, 2008, for a “felony-bogus con game” and he pleaded guilty and received a year-deferred sentence in Tulsa County.
According to the Tulsa County Court Clerk, Holden was charged July 26 for defrauding an innkeeper, which he pleaded guilty to and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 15. According to court records, Holden was charged Feb. 9, 2006 with obtaining cash and merchandise by bogus check in Sapulpa.
Also investigators discovered on April 15 Holden was allegedly charged for the “same type of fraud” in Sapulpa but there has been no disposition for that crime according to the police report.
Investigators found another charge on Oct. 10 of defrauding an innkeeper in Okmulgee.
Two phone numbers are listed on Rick Holden Co.’s invoices for Arkansas Glass and Mirror and VR Electric. When called, one states it has been temporary disconnected and the other is a recording that states the number is no longer a working number.
A man named Warren answered another number listed under Rick Holden and Co. and said Holden had not been with the company for two years.
He said, “I don’t know where he is, I don’t have any information and I know exactly what you’re trying to do,” then hung up the phone.
