Vinita theme park backer claims he was duped out of $60 million for failed project [View all]

Vinita theme park backer claims he was duped out of $60 million for failed project

The financial backer of the proposed $2 billion American Heartland theme park in Vinita has sued three individuals associated with the development, claiming the project failed after the three bilked him out of $60 million in part by sending encouraging texts and emails to him that purported to come from God.

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“Silanskas and Wilhite executed a predatory conspiracy of psychological manipulation — convincing Gene, through fraud and impersonation, that God himself was commanding him both to finance the park’s construction and to grant Silanskas and Wilhite two-third ownership over the completed venture, which was to be worth $2 billion,” the lawsuit states.

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Their efforts included sending Bicknell anonymous texts and emails that pretended to come from God and another religious figure.

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“And after years of conning Gene out of more than $60 million and spending all of that money, including on themselves and their family members, defendants constructed nothing more than a fence and a gravel road,” referring to the Craig County site where the groundbreaking took place.

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Link to article; requires Tulsa World subscription.
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_c8c6bacd-1cb5-4b8d-8ea4-f1fa2ff340e6.html

Gene Bicknell is 92 years old and built his fortune as owner of the world’s largest Pizza Hut franchise, as well as Mansion Entertainment in Branson, MO.

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