Oklahoma County Commissioner Scandal (1980-1984)

Beginning in 1980, a federal investigation known as OKSCAM uncovered a statewide corruption scheme involving county road and bridge contracts. County commissioners directed purchases of materials needed for road maintenance responsibilities, then received a percentage of the payment as a kickback. In some cases, counties were charged inflated prices or paid for materials that were never delivered.

By early 1984, approximately 220 to 230 commissioners, contractors, suppliers, and others had been convicted or pleaded guilty. The scandal reached 60 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties and involved 110 commissioners who were still in office. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma played a central role in prosecutions, and OKSCAM was considered one of the largest public-corruption investigations.