A federal judge Wednesday sentenced a former Arkansas state senator to 18 years and four months in prison for organizing and leading a bribery scheme, according to officials.
Federal officials maintain that state funds were sent to non-profits in exchange for kickbacks, many were funneled through a consultant’s business, officials said.
A jury found Jonathan E. Woods, 41, of Springdale, Arkansas, guilty in May of 15 counts, including conspiracy, honest services wire and mail fraud, and money laundering.
“Jonathan Woods abused his position as an Arkansas State Senator and betrayed the public trust by taking bribes and kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “This conviction demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice and our federal partners to investigate and prosecute public officials who misuse their authority to benefit themselves at the expense of the citizens they pledged to serve.”
During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks also ordered Woods to pay restitution in the amount of $1.6 million to the State of Arkansas and two economic development districts including the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District along with forfeiting $1 million.
Judge Brooks commented the following during the sentencing, according to ReverbPress:
“Republicans and the so-called Christian Right have frequently hijacked the Christian religion to promote “family values” among their constituents: a show of morality to cover their bigotry and corrupt actions. In general, they promote a version of “Christianity” which does not live within the pages of the Christian bible. One which emphasizes bigotry, violence, and greed in ways that are antithetical to the actual teachings of Jesus Christ. While Woods and his fellow conspirators were caught, it does not change the fact that these men, particularly Oren Paris, were hypocrites who championed Christian values while betraying those very testaments. And they are far from alone.”
The evidence indicated that Woods served as an Arkansas State Senator from 2013 to 2017.
Between approximately 2013 and approximately 2015, Woods used his official position as a senator to give federal General Improvement Fund, to two non-profit entities, one of which was the Christian work university Ecclesia College.
He told other Arkansas legislators – including former State Representative Micah Neal, 43, of Springdale, Arkansas – to contribute federal funds to the non-profits.
Specifically, Woods and Neal authorized and directed the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District, which was responsible for disbursing the funds, to award a total of approximately $600,000 of the funds to the two non-profit entities.
The evidence further showed that Woods and Neal received bribes from officials at both non-profits, including Oren Paris III, 50, of Springdale, Arkansas, who was the president of a college.
Woods initially facilitated $200,000 of the money to the college and later, together with Neal, directed another $200,000 to the college, all in exchange for kickbacks.
To conceal the kickbacks to Woods and Neal, Paris paid a portion of the funds to a consulting company controlled by Randell G. Shelton Jr., 39, of Alma, Arkansas.
Shelton then kept a portion of the money and paid the other portion to Woods and Neal. Paris also bribed Woods by hiring Woods’s friend to an administrative position at the college.
Shelton also was found guilty by a jury on May 3. He was convicted of 12 counts, including conspiracy and honest services wire and mail fraud, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 6.
Paris pleaded guilty on April 5, before Judge Brooks to one count of honest services wire fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 12.
Neal pleaded guilty on Jan. 4, 2017, before Judge Brooks to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 13.