TULSA, OKLA. (KTUL) — William Shane Garrow, a former Senior Vice President of Private Banking, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell to 71 months in prison for bank fraud and willfully making and subscribing a false federal income tax return. Garrow, 49, of Tulsa, was also ordered to pay restitution totaling more than $5.3 million, including $3,863,527.94 to the Bank of Oklahoma and $1,519,158 to the IRS.
“Garrow deceived people for over 12 years, and his actions wreaked havoc on banking personnel who were tasked with correcting his wrongs,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
“This was not a simple banking error or an accident, but rather a criminal scheme. Garrow abused the trust given to him by the bank and its customers.”
Garrow, who worked for a subsidiary of BOK Financial Corporation from 2007 through 2024, was involved in a fraudulent scheme from 2012 until his capture in 2024.
As the Senior Vice President of Private Banking, he provided investment and banking services to wealthy clients.
Garrow lied to clients and colleagues, directing fraudulent wire transfers and cashier’s checks from at least 16 client accounts to entities and bank accounts he controlled.
If clients questioned the transactions, Garrow falsely claimed they were banking errors and attempted to cover his tracks by returning the stolen funds or transferring money from another unsuspecting victim’s account.
Additionally, Garrow falsified his tax returns by underreporting his earnings to the IRS.
Garrow admitted to stealing over $4.2 million and was ordered to forfeit more than $700,000 in previously seized currency and two real estate properties.
He was released on bond and is required to voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on July 9, 2025.
