COWETA — A criminal investigation into allegations surrounding Coweta’s now-canceled Project Atlas data center found no evidence that city officials violated state law, police announced this week.
Coweta Police Chief Mike Bell said the investigation, conducted with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Wagoner County District Attorney’s Office, found no substantiated criminal conduct related to complaints involving city officials and the proposed data center project.
Investigators reviewed allegations involving possible violations of state real estate laws, the Oklahoma Open Records Act, nondisclosure agreements, bribery and improper financial transactions. Bell said the evidence did not support criminal charges in any instance.
The investigation followed months of controversy over Project Atlas, a proposed data center near the city’s wastewater treatment plant. San Francisco-based Beale Infrastructure abandoned the project in March after local opposition.
Bell said investigators found some concerns related to public perception, policy discussions and transparency expectations but concluded the activities reviewed fell within the normal scope of municipal administration and economic development. They also found no evidence that confidentiality agreements were used to unlawfully conceal records or circumvent Oklahoma’s public disclosure laws.
The investigation was launched in May at the request of the Coweta City Council after residents raised concerns about the city’s handling of the project.
