Oklahoma Co. DA asks State Auditor to investigate Swadley’s deals with ODTR

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The Oklahoma County District Legal professional has despatched a letter to the State Auditor requesting a forensic audit into allegations a couple of contract between Swadley’s Bar-B-Q restaurant and the State Division of Tourism and Recreation.

“I wish to shine a lightweight on any type of corruption or something that’s happening in state authorities,” stated Governor Kevin Stitt at a press convention on Monday. “We’ll completely maintain any vendor accountable.”

Governor Kevin Stitt stated he would “completely” name for an investigation into the alleged questionable dealings, however it appears like he gained’t must make that decision.

That’s as a result of District Legal professional David Prater already has.

In a brand new letter from Prater to State Auditor Cindy Byrd, obtained by KFOR, the DA stated, “The alleged conduct has resulted in a minimum of $4,500,00. in extreme funds to Swadley’s by the State of Oklahoma. I’ve concluded {that a} felony investigation ought to be performed.”

That’s an allegation the OSBI confirmed brokers are trying into, on the request of DA Prater.

In a brand new bombshell report, The Oklahoman stated the state has paid Swadley’s $17 million to renovate and run Foggy Backside Kitchens in choose state parks.

A whistleblower, talking anonymously to the paper, stated he labored for the restaurant chain for many years. He stated Swadley’s homeowners and high tourism officers had a secrete assembly months earlier than “requests for quotes had gone out to greater than a dozen firms.”

Swadley’s was the one enterprise to reply.

The Oklahoman reported Swadley’s then overcharged the state hundreds of {dollars} for industrial people who smoke, all whereas charging further administration and consulting charges.

The whistleblower stated Swadley’s proprietor recommended “we’ve our distributors invoice us a further 30% on the bill we provide the OTRD and request a ‘rebate’ again kind the seller.”

After crunching the numbers, the report stated taxpayers paid for greater than half 1,000,000 {dollars} in surcharges.

The State Auditor’s workplace offered KFOR with the next assertion:

“The State Auditor’s Workplace takes all whistleblower complaints very severely. Per the Open Data Act, we defend any data shared by way of our fraud hotline. The State Auditor’s Workplace doesn’t have statutory authority to open an investigation with out a request from a chosen official. All suggestions are pursued in an affordable and well timed method as pending initiatives are accomplished.”

Nevertheless, the request from DA Prater now makes an investigation by the State Auditor and Inspector obligatory.

Whereas talking at a information convention, Governor Kevin Stitt stated he needs to crack down on corrupt distributors whereas questioning the timing of the allegations.

“If there’s a vendor on the market or there’s a contract that this contract or this vendor isn’t performing accurately or overcharging the state, we are going to discover that out. We’ll terminate that. We’ll sue that vendor and we are going to get the taxpayer’s a refund,” stated the Governor. “We’ll discover out if there’s a foul vendor, however on the identical time, it’s type of peculiar that every one these things occurs on election yr.”

Governor Stitt additionally added Oklahoma State Parks are “turning into high ten.”

“We’ve we’re doing a improbable job of redoing the bogs in these state parks and in and getting tourism {dollars} up within the state,” he stated.

KFOR reached out to the Oklahoma Division of Tourism and Recreation for remark and so they replied with the next:

“During the last two years, the Division has invested closely in updating the state park system after many years of deferred upkeep attributable to underfunding together with the planning and set up of greater than 100 new toilet and bathe items, the modernization of RV websites throughout the system, and important infrastructure enhancements.

We respect the Legislature’s essential company oversight function and stay up for working collectively to proceed bettering the state park system. Resulting from ongoing inner and exterior investigations, the Division can’t remark additional at the moment.”

David White, ODTR Director of Public Info and Authorities Affairs