Drummond comments after Swadley sentenced for defrauding Oklahoma taxpayers

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 22, 2026) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond today responded to the sentencing of Brent Swadley for his role in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud Oklahoma taxpayers.

Swadley received a six-year suspended sentence and was ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution and $50,000 in fines. At Swadley’s trial, the jury recommended he serve 10 years in prison.

“Judge Truong has invited fraudsters like Brent Swadley to injure Oklahoma with impunity. She should resign," Drummond said. "The State proved our case in court, and we believe the verdict the jury returned was a just sentence. We asked that it be imposed, and the judge chose not to follow the jury’s recommendation. When a judge ignores years-long investigations by multiple state agencies and a jury of Oklahoma citizens who thoroughly reviewed all of the evidence, public confidence in the justice system is undermined.”

Swadley was convicted in May on six felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the state and five counts of presenting false or fraudulent claims against the state. The charges stemmed from Swadley's contract with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department to operate Swadley's Foggy Bottom Kitchen restaurants at six state parks.

Evidence presented at trial showed Swadley submitted fraudulent invoices and directed a supplier to inflate equipment costs. His restaurant chain received approximately $16 million in state funds before the contract was canceled in 2022.

Drummond directed his office to investigate the contract in coordination with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation shortly after taking office in January 2023. The Multi-County Grand Jury indicted Swadley and two others in February 2024. Both co-defendants, Curtis Breuklander and Timothy Hooper, pleaded guilty before Swadley's conviction.