A Massachusetts man has been indicted by the Multi-County Grand Jury for allegedly impersonating former Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters. The indictment states that Owen Thomas Cunningham, 48, sent letters in August 2024 to school superintendents throughout Oklahoma. These letters instructed school officials to distribute certain documents to students. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation began an inquiry after Walters confirmed he did not authorize or send the communications.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond commented on the case: “This defendant’s actions constitute a deliberate attempt to deceive Oklahoma educators and undermine public trust in our state institutions,” Drummond said. “Impersonating a public official is a serious offense, and we will not tolerate efforts to manipulate our schools or create confusion among parents and educators. My office is committed to holding those who engage in such fraudulent schemes accountable.”
Cunningham faces one count of False Personation of a Public Officer, which is classified as a misdemeanor under state law. If convicted, he could receive up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $2,000, or both.
According to the official biography, Attorney General Drummond leads efforts focused on crime prevention, government transparency, and tribal relations in Oklahoma. He brings nearly thirty years of legal experience and advocates for policies supporting education safeguards and tougher laws against crimes such as drug distribution and child exploitation.
The Attorney General’s office works with state and federal partners on organized crime cases and provides public legal services within Oklahoma (source).
Authorities emphasized that every person arrested or charged is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
