After years of investigations, audits and courtroom battles stemming from the controversial state parks restaurant contract, Swadley’s Bar-B-Q owner Brent Swadley has been convicted by an Oklahoma County jury on multiple felony counts tied to what prosecutors described as a scheme to defraud the state. The case traces its origins to 2022, whenquestionsbegansurfacing over contracts between the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen.
Swadley secured agreements to renovate and operate restaurants at six state parks. Between 2020 and early 2022, the company received roughly $17 million from the state for renovations and operations but concerns over spending and billing practices prompted an audit and eventually a criminal investigation.
Following investigations by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, a multicounty grand jury handed down indictments in February 2024 against Swadley and two associates, alleging they conspired to defraud Oklahoma taxpayers through fraudulent invoices and claims for payment. Attorney General Gentner Drummond made the case a priority after taking office in 2023.
During the jury trial, prosecutors presented testimony that many invoices submitted by Foggy Bottom Kitchen lacked supporting documentation and often failed to clearly identify what projects or materials the charges related to. Witnesses testified that investigators had difficulty matching invoices with specific jobs or contractors because of vague descriptions and incomplete records.
As the trial opened, two co-defendants, Curtis Breuklander and Timothy Hooper, entered guilty pleas, leaving Swadley to face the charges before a jury. After deliberation, jurors found Swadley guilty on all six counts, one felony count of conspiracy to defraud the state and five felony counts of presenting false or fraudulent claims against the state.
Prosecutors alleged the fraud amounted to approximately $3.1 million. The convictions mark one of the most prominent public corruption cases in Oklahoma in recent years and bring a significant chapter of the long-running Swadley scandal to a close.
Swadley now faces sentencing, where he could receive as much as 10 years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 16. Following the verdict, Drummondpraisedthejury's decision, saying the outcome demonstratedthatthosewho misuse taxpayer dollars will be held accountable.