Former Arkansas state senator Jonathan E. Woods, 39, is facing serious charges after being accused of orchestrating a $600,000 bribery and fraud scheme alongside two accomplices.
The indictment filed by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elser of the Western District of Arkansas reveals that Woods used his position to direct government funds to non-profits in exchange for bribes, including cash kickbacks and political favors.
Woods, along with college president Oren Paris III, 49, and consultant Randell G. Shelton Jr., 37, are charged with numerous counts of honest services wire fraud and mail fraud. Woods is also accused of money laundering.
The investigation uncovered that Woods directed $600,000 from General Improvement Funds to two non-profits through the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. He and his co-conspirators received kickbacks from these organizations, including Paris who was the president of a college.
Former state representative Micah Neal pleaded guilty in 2017 to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, with sentencing pending.
The FBI and IRS are leading the investigation, with Trial Attorney Sean Mulryne and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyra Jenner and Ben Wulff prosecuting the case. The public is encouraged to report any information regarding public corruption through the FBI’s public corruption hotline at 501-221-8200.
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Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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