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US Secret Service, FBI Join Probe of Oklahoma State Senator

oksenate.gov
Sen. Ralph Shortey (R-Oklahoma City)

The U.S. Secret Service and the FBI in Oklahoma City have both confirmed they are joining the investigation of a Republican state senator from Oklahoma City who is facing felony child prostitution charges.

The Secret Service's special agent in charge of the Oklahoma City office, Ken Valentine, confirmed Monday that investigators from his office are assisting in the investigation of state Sen. Ralph Shortey at the request of the Moore Police Department.

Valentine says the agency has access to some of the latest technology for investigating crimes that involve the use of smartphones and computers.

Moore police have said they uncovered a series of electronic messages between Shortey and a 17-year-old boy using the messaging application Kik.

FBI spokeswoman Jessica Rice confirmed Monday that her agency served a search warrant Friday at the Oklahoma City home of Sen. Ralph Shortey. Rice said she could not provide any more details because of a "sensitive ongoing investigation."

No federal charges have been filed against Shortey.

State prosecutors charged Shortey last week with engaging in child prostitution, transporting a minor for prostitution and engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church. He was released on a $100,000 bond.

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