Former Swadley's employee, former OTRD finance director testify in Brent Swadley trial

May 23, 2026 - 05:34

A former Swadley's employee and the former finance director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department took the stand this week in the ongoing fraud trial of Brent Swadley. Swadley is accused of defrauding the state of Oklahoma during his operation of state-owned restaurants and concessions.

The former employee testified about internal operations and billing practices at the company, offering insight into how contracts were managed. The former OTRD finance director provided testimony regarding the state's oversight of the financial agreements with Swadley's, detailing how funds were allocated and tracked.

Prosecutors allege that Swadley inflated costs and submitted false invoices to the state, leading to millions of dollars in overpayments. The defense has argued that any discrepancies were the result of miscommunication or errors, not intentional fraud.

The trial, which has drawn significant attention, continues to unfold as more witnesses are called to testify. The case is expected to last several more weeks as both sides present their evidence and arguments to the jury.