Former Arkansas Senator Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Bribery Scheme

A former Arkansas State Senator has been sentenced to 220 months in prison for organizing and leading a bribery scheme in which state funds were directed to non-profit entities in exchange for kickbacks, many of which were funneled through a consultant’s business.

Jonathan E. Woods, 41, of Springdale, Arkansas, was found guilty of 15 counts, including conspiracy, honest services wire and mail fraud, and money laundering after a jury trial. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks of the Western District of Arkansas also sentenced Woods to serve three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $1,621,500 in restitution to the State of Arkansas and two economic development districts.

The bribery scheme involved Woods using his official position as a senator to appropriate and direct government money, known as General Improvement Funds (GIF), to two non-profit entities. Woods and former State Representative Micah Neal authorized and directed the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District to award a total of approximately $600,000 in GIF money to the two non-profit entities.

Woods and Neal received bribes from officials at both non-profits, including Oren Paris III, the president of a college. Woods initially facilitated $200,000 of GIF money to the college and later, together with Neal, directed another $200,000 to the college, all in exchange for kickbacks.

Shelton also was found guilty by a jury on May 3 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6. Paris pleaded guilty on April 5 and has not yet been sentenced.

“Jonathan Woods abused his position as an Arkansas State Senator and betrayed the public trust by taking bribes and kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski. “This conviction demonstrates the commitment of the federal government to investigate and prosecute public officials who misuse their authority to benefit themselves at the expense of the citizens they pledged to serve.”

“Today’s sentence is the result of very hard work by the assigned Assistant U.S. Attorneys and the special agents from the IRS and the FBI,” said U.S. Attorney Duane “DAK” Kees. “We both respect and appreciate the judgment of the Court and the sentence that Judge Brooks ordered today. This sentence should send a message to the people who would abuse the trust of Arkansas voters and citizens.”