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Jerry Eubanks spent 20 years in prison for armed robbery, was convicted of methamphetamine distribution with an assault rifle, and embezzled $34,000 as a city manager. Now he runs Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and his first major act was firing the longtime police chief for "lack of ethics." When journalists arrived to investigate, Eubanks shut down City Hall to the public entirely.
The criminal history reads like a cautionary tale about who should never hold public office, yet somehow Eubanks keeps getting hired by city councils across Oklahoma.
The Criminal Who Became City Manager
Eubanks began his career with aggravated armed robbery in Arkansas, earning a 20-year prison sentence. After release, he quickly escalated to methamphetamine distribution and illegal firearm possession, adding another decade behind bars. Court records show he was convicted of distributing more than 5 grams of methamphetamine while possessing an assault rifle as a previously convicted felon.
Most people with this rap sheet would struggle to get hired at a gas station. Eubanks got hired to manage entire cities.
His embezzlement scheme was brazen even by government corruption standards. As Fairview's city manager in 2018, Eubanks purchased a $34,000 generator and electrical equipment for the Senior Center with city funds. When the items arrived and weren't needed, he kept them personally, then convinced the city to buy identical equipment from his sister-in-law's company, splitting the profits.
The Police Chief Firing That Raised Questions
Despite his criminal convictions for embezzlement, Pawhuska's city council hired Eubanks and gave him a $25,000 bonus specifically to pay his court-ordered restitution. His first major decision was firing Police Chief Lori Hennessy, a longtime officer, citing her supposed "lack of ethics."
Residents began calling with concerns that Eubanks was brought in specifically to remove Hennessy. The timing seemed suspicious, the reasoning absurd. A multiple felon firing a police chief for ethical violations crosses into dark comedy territory.
When journalists arrived at City Hall seeking answers, they encountered Assistant City Manager Carol, who became immediately defensive and refused to direct them to the records clerk for a simple open records request.
The Assistant Manager's Meltdown
Carol's behavior escalated quickly from evasive to bizarre. When asked basic questions about her role, she responded, "I'm me. I told you that already." She refused to identify herself despite being a public employee and called police simply because journalists asked where to find the records department.
The interaction revealed a city government operating more like a private club than a public institution. Carol's hostility toward basic transparency requests suggested an organization with much to hide.
Even the responding officer seemed confused about his own title, calling himself "Chief Deputy officer" in a single sentence, highlighting the chaos Eubanks brought to city operations.
City Hall Goes Into Lockdown Mode
After the investigation, Eubanks made a stunning decision that confirmed residents' worst fears about transparency. He closed City Hall to the public entirely, requiring appointments for any access. The move sparked citizen protests and forced negative coverage on social media.
The restrictions were eventually scaled back after public pressure, but Eubanks installed signs limiting where citizens could go in their own City Hall. The building that once welcomed public participation became a fortress against accountability.
Other city departments fell apart under Eubanks' management. Pawhuska operates without a police chief, city attorney, or city auditor, and failed to submit required audit paperwork to the state.
The Records That Reveal Everything
Court documents from Kay County show the full scope of Eubanks' embezzlement operation. Even basic requests to view his public court files met resistance from clerks who seemed to forget that criminal cases are public records. One clerk insisted journalists couldn't view documents that were clearly accessible to anyone.
The District Attorney's office handling Eubanks' pending embezzlement charges refused all comment, even declining to identify who was refusing to comment. The secrecy surrounding a straightforward corruption case suggested either incompetence or something more troubling.
When approached for comment about the case, the DA's task force agent confirmed only that Eubanks faces a plea hearing, but provided no details about expected charges or sentencing.
The Confrontation That's Coming
The investigation culminated in a direct confrontation with Eubanks himself at his court hearing, where he finally had to answer for his actions. See exactly what happened when this convicted felon was forced to face the cameras in the full video.
