TULSA COUNTY, Okla. — Legal battles continue for a couple who run a local non-profit.
Oklahoma Heartland Heroes Foundation is an organization that provides food to at-risk communities. However, there have been multiple investigations into the organization.
FOX23 received a tip last year claiming that hundreds of boxes of government food that was supposed to be donated was laying outside, rotting outside of a north Tulsa church.
When FOX23 first began its investigation, a drone was used to fly over the land to get video. A man was caught on camera throwing broccoli at our drone.
The same man later stepped on the drone.
Once we were able to step onto the property, we found a room filled with rotting food and rodents.
The organization is run by Victor and Penny Colbert. Victor told FOX23 the organization wasn’t doing anything wrong, but the USDA disagreed and opened an investigation.
As a result, the USDA told FOX23 they would no longer provide food to Oklahoma Heartland Heroes Foundation. Eventually, the Colberts moved to Terlton in Creek County. They rented land from Robert Stamper, who said Penny and Victor tricked him into leasing the land.
Again, FOX23 saw rotting food outside.
“I know for a fact they’re gonna leave me with all this crap, yes. There ain’t no way they’re gonna get it out of here,” said Stamper.
Stamper was right. He says the Colberts left the pile, belongings, and even a Ford Mustang. He says the couple also owed him money. That’s when Stamper decided to take them to court. A judge evicted them from property.
Pastor Rusty Gunn said the Colberts took advantage of his Sand Springs church, Church That Matters. He says he gave Heartland Heroes more than $6,700 to pay for hams and turkeys before Thanksgiving.
He says his church received nothing in return.
“I see the potential danger that these people continue to cause,” said Gunn.
The Tulsa Dream Center had a similar experience. Court documents say they paid Heartland Heroes nearly $29,000 for hams and turkeys, but the Dream Center never received the food.
For this, Penny received a felony charge: Obtaining Money by False Pretense. Victor and Penny were handed the same charge for what happened at Gunn’s church.
“This is the money people have donated to help people, money donated out of faith in God, to use money for his kingdom, and to help people,” said Gunn.
In court last week, the Colberts’ attorney argued that the evidence presented didn’t meet probable cause, and the judge agreed. The next day, the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office filed an appeal, saying they have enough evidence and would like a trial.
The pair will be back in court next month for the judge to consider the appeal.
Penny is scheduled to go to court next week for the Tulsa Dream Center charge.
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