Indictment Unsealed Alleging That Ex-Norman Car Dealership Executive Tampered with Court Proceedings

Witness Also Charged with Lying to Federal Grand Jury

OKLAHOMA CITY – United States Attorney Robert J. Troester announced that a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging BOBBY CHRIS MAYES, 50, of Norman, with three counts of tampering with official proceedings.  The indictment also charged ERIN ALLEGRE, 36, of Norman, with lying in testimony before a federal grand jury.

Mayes appeared for arraignment this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shon T. Erwin.  Mayes has been in federal custody since October 25, 2022, and he was ordered today to remain in custody pending further proceedings. 

Public records reflect that Mayes was the former owner of the Big Red Dealerships (Big Red Sports/Imports, Big Red Kia, Norman Yamaha, Norman Mitsubishi, and Mayes Kia).  On November 19, 2021, Mayes was convicted along with two co-defendants by a jury in Western District of Oklahoma Case Number CR-20-240-F.  After nearly a three-week trial, Mayes was convicted of conspiring to commit wire fraud, 12 counts of wire fraud, six counts of uttering forged securities, and aggravated identity theft.  Mayes is awaiting sentencing in that case, where he faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years for aggravated identity theft to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment.

Today’s unsealed indictment alleges that from April through October of 2022, Mayes tampered with official proceedings in Case Number CR-20-240-F.  More specifically, the indictment alleges Mayes orchestrated and helped to secure the unavailability of a key participant in the proceeding, fabricated e-mails and other evidence in an effort to secure a new trial in that prior case, and sent an anonymous e-mail to the Court as part of an effort to obtain a new trial in Case Number CR-20-240-F.   

Today’s indictment also alleges that Allegre lied to the federal grand jury when she appeared as a witness on May 3, 2022, and testified regarding the investigation of the whereabouts of one of Mayes’ co-defendants in Case Number CR-20-240-F.

 If found guilty on the indictment announced today, Mayes faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each of the three counts of tampering. If convicted, Allegre faces a maximum of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for lying to the grand jury.

This case is the result of an investigation by FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Snyder and Jacquelyn Hutzell are prosecuting the case.

The public is reminded that these charges announced today are merely allegations, and Mayes and Allegre are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to court filings for further information.