Ralph Shortey
Ralph Shortey | |
|---|---|
Shortey in 2010 | |
| Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 44th district | |
| In office January 2011 – March 22, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Debbe Leftwich |
| Succeeded by | Michael Brooks-Jimenez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ralph Allan Lee Shortey February 16, 1982 Casper, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Jennifer
(m. 2002; div. 2018) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Heartland Baptist Bible College |
| Criminal status | In prison |
| Conviction | Child sex trafficking |
| Criminal penalty | 15 years in prison, plus 10 years' supervised release |
Date apprehended | 2017 |
| Imprisoned at | Federal Correctional Institution, Seagoville |
Ralph Allan Lee Shortey (born February 16, 1982) is an American convicted sex offender and former politician and businessman. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 2010, defeating several challengers in primary elections, re-elected in 2014 and served his term until 2017. During his tenure, he established a Republican consulting firm. Shortey was the state campaign chair for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
Shortey resigned in March 2017 after being charged with three felonies relating to prostitution from a male minor. In September 2017, a federal grand jury in Oklahoma City charged Shortey on four counts, one of which he pleaded guilty to in November 2017, with an agreement that the others would be dropped. Jailed since his plea, Shortey was sentenced in September 2018 to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.