Vicki Behenna

Vicki Zemp Behenna, is a former Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. During her tenure as an Assistant United States Attorney, she tried numerous fraud cases including bank, wire, mail, corporate and healthcare and was responsible for the prosecution of complex public corruption cases. Behenna’s background and extensive investigative experience with complex investigations resulted in the conviction of many high-profile defendants.

Among her noteworthy prosecutions, Behenna was selected to participate in the Oklahoma City bombing case against Timothy McVeigh as a special attorney to then U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. Upon completion of the case, Behenna was selected by U.S. Attorney Pat Ryan to serve as senior litigation counsel for the Western District of Oklahoma. Behenna has tried numerous bank fraud cases including a case against State Senator Paul Taliaferro and Dale Mitchell. She was involved in the investigation and prosecution of two high profile public corruption cases involving the Oklahoma State Treasurer’s office and the Senate Pro Tempe. She also was involved in an off-label marketing case that resulted in a criminal conviction of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and a settlement to the government in the amount of $491 million.

Behenna left the U.S. Attorney’s Office after 25 years and entered private practice representing clients charged with a variety of state and federal crimes.  Immediately upon leaving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Behenna joined Crowe & Dunlevy as an advisory director and then opened her own firm of Behenna, Goerke, Krahl & Meyer.  She also served as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Innocence Project at the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Behenna has received several accolades during her 25 year career including the Trial Advocacy Award given by the Association of Government Lawyers in Capital Litigation, Distinguished Service Award from by U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, Integrity Award presented by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, was recognized by the Western District of Oklahoma as an Outstanding Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2012, and was awarded Distinguished Law Alumna by Oklahoma City University School of Law in 2013.

Behenna is an active speaker and a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association, Oklahoma Association of Women Lawyers and William J. Holloway, Jr. American Inn of Court. She serves as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University School of Law instructing the trial practice and evidence course.

Behenna received her Juris Doctor from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and her bachelor of arts in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.