HOT SPRINGS, AR – A once-respected lawman is trading his badge for prison stripes. Derek “Scott” Finkbeiner, 47, the former Sheriff of Hot Spring County, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The charge? Engaging in a scheme to conceal a material fact from a governmental agency – in this case, the FBI. Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey delivered the sentence in U.S. District Court.
The fall from grace for Finkbeiner, who took office in January 2023, was swift and fueled by a dangerous combination of drugs and deceit. By May of the same year, federal agents had caught wind of the Sheriff’s illicit use of crack cocaine and methamphetamine. But it wasn’t the drug use itself that landed him in court; it was the desperate attempt to cover it up when the feds started sniffing around his supplier.
According to court documents, Finkbeiner became aware of a federal investigation targeting his drug dealer in August 2023. Instead of cooperating, he allegedly launched a calculated effort to mislead the FBI and steer them away from his connection to the target. The investigation revealed, and Finkbeiner ultimately admitted, that between August 19 and August 24, 2023, he intentionally obscured the truth about his relationship with the individual under scrutiny.
The details are damning. Finkbeiner confessed to being present at the target’s residence during a controlled purchase of narcotics by the FBI. He further admitted to actively participating in the drug use, “smoking” crack cocaine and methamphetamine alongside the dealer. But the most damaging revelation was his deliberate attempt to lie about the nature of his – and the Hot Spring County Sheriff Department’s – relationship with the target, all in a desperate bid to shut down the investigation.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas announced the sentencing, a clear signal that obstructing federal investigations will not be tolerated, even when committed by those sworn to uphold the law. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Harris and Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Achorn and Trent Daniels.
This isn’t just about drugs; it’s about a betrayal of public trust. A sheriff, entrusted with enforcing the law, actively worked to subvert it, risking the integrity of the entire justice system. Finkbeiner’s two-year sentence serves as a stark reminder that no one, not even those wearing a badge, is above the law. Court documents related to the case can be found at www.pacer.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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