OKLAHOMA CITY - The state's multicounty grand jury wrapped up its 15th session with a single finding - to clear donors to the campaign of Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado of ethics violations.
Attorney General Scott Pruitt's final grand jury report said the grand jury found no evidence to substantiate allegations made by Oklahoma's Democratic party in March that a Rogers County company made $42,050 in donations through nine employees and their spouses.
Grand jurors questioned at least nine employees of ISTI Plant Services, an oilfield construction company based at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. They also subpoenaed and reviewed the employees' bank records, according to the grand jury report.
The investigation found that most of the employees earned more than $100,000 in 2015 and received year-end bonuses of $10,000 to $150,000. The Democratic Party alleged the employees were of "modest means" and did not have the money to donate the maximum allowable amount of $2,700.
Witnesses told the grand jury they contributed to Regalado's campaign because they believed he was the best candidate for the job. Two witnesses said their families were from the same part of Mexico as Regalado. The report states that employees did discuss the campaign prior to the election, but that they made their donations voluntarily.
2 Works for You reached out to Regalado for comment. He said, "I am not surprised by the grand jury's findings, as I have maintained all along that we ran a clean campaign and went above what is expected in terms vetting my donors. I am very happy that my donors have been vindicated."
Regalado was the first person of Hispanic descent ever to become sheriff of Tulsa County and the first newly-elected sheriff since 1988. He was sworn in to office in April.
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