On Jan. 18, police arrested Henrikson on charges of possessing weapons as a felon. He told arresting officers that he had “ties to organized crime from California,” postal inspector Thomas Irvin testified at his bail hearing.
Irvin also revealed an apparent rift between Henrikson and Creveling, saying: “She’s in fear for her safety and not returning home.”
Several days after the raid, Henrikson’s wife, Creveling, contacted federal agents, prosecutors said in an April 8 court filing. She told them that investors in their companies were defrauded through ownership transfers. Profits were funneled away from investors who received phony financial statements, Creveling said. She also said she bought guns for Henrikson, who would “meticulously” wipe them down to remove finger prints.
Awaiting Trial
Five months after his arrest, Henrikson remains held at a squat, one-story jail in Rugby, North Dakota, on the eastern edge of the oil patch. Tim Purdon, the U.S. attorney for North Dakota, declined to discuss his case, as did authorities in Spokane.
Henrikson hasn’t been charged with murder. His former public defender in Bismarck, William Schmidt, said prosecutors told him a murder charge in the Spokane case was still likely. Henrikson’s current attorney, Thomas Tuntland, declined to comment. In Spokane, Suckow, the accused murderer, and Wahrer, the accused get-away driver, are in custody awaiting trial. Both have pleaded not guilty.
In the Bakken, plans are afoot to tap the Kingdom Dynamics land. Dedmon, the Texas oil man, said he’s lining up financing and hopes to start drilling by October. While lamenting Carlile’s death, he and the other investors are forging ahead on a project he figures could net $5 million a month in profit.
“The oil and gas industry is still a pretty two-fisted business,” Dedmon said. “There aren’t a lot of shy retiring types in this industry. But neither do you find guys who are willing to go out and sacrifice somebody else’s life.”