Former Ottawa County prosecutor pleads guilty after seeking sexual favors from defendants
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Daniel Thomas Giraldi, a former Ottawa County Assistant District Attorney pleaded guilty in federal court.
United States Attorney Clint Johnson said the plea came after providing drugs and performing favorable legal actions that benefitted defendants in exchange for sex.
The 44-year-old from Joplin pleaded guilty to one count of possession of Oxycodone with intent to distribute and four counts of honest services fraud.
Giraldi will be sentenced at a later date by a federal judge.
As per the stipulations within the plea agreement. Giraldi will forfeit his Oklahoma Bar License and never apply for reinstatement. He will also never hold public office again.
Daniel Giraldi disgraced the office of Assistant District Attorney,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “As a public servant, he had a duty to act with integrity and competence. Instead, he violated the law and the trust placed in him by the District Attorney and the people of Ottawa County. Investigators with the Miami Police Department, District Attorney’s Office, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and FBI were unyielding in their pursuit of justice in this case, thus ensuring Giraldi’s conviction.
The citizens of Ottawa County entrusted Daniel Giraldi to represent them ethically and transparently,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward Gray. “In a reprehensible misuse of public trust, he exploited his position and undermined the integrity of the District Attorney’s Office. The FBI stands firm with our law enforcement partners in rooting out all forms of public corruption, no matter the person, position, or purpose.
Giraldi admitted that in April of this year, he possessed Oxycodone with intent to distribute. He had texted a defendant a week earlier and agreed to bring the drug when the two met for sex.
He further admitted to defrauding the citizens of Oklahoma and the Ottawa County District Attorney's Office of their right to honest and faithful services that he owed to them as an Assistant DA.
He stated that he took bribes in exchange for corrupt official acts that benefitted the defendants.
Specifically, he said that he would accept something of value, including sexual acts, in exchange for favorable treatment that included reduction of bond amounts on criminal defendants, the dismissal of traffic violations, and other corrupt actions.
These crimes occurred from February 2019 through April 2022.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Miami Police Department, and District Attorney’s Office-District 13 conducted the investigation.
