{"id":52105,"date":"2023-02-03T21:13:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-04T05:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=52105"},"modified":"2023-02-09T17:49:32","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T01:49:32","slug":"former-arkansas-state-senator-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-bribery-and-tax-fraud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=52105","title":{"rendered":"Former Arkansas State Senator Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bribery and Tax Fraud"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON D.C.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"A former Arkansas State Senator was sentenced Friday to three years and ten months in prison in Arkansas for accepting multiple bribes and tax fraud, officials stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crimes were committed in connection with a multi-district investigation spanning Arkansas and Missouri, according to authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pursuant to his global plea agreement, Jeremy Hutchinson, 48, of Little Rock, plead guilty on June 25, 2019, in Arkansas to filing a false tax return.<\/span><\/p>\n

He also pleaded guilty on June 25, 2019, to conspiracy to commit federal program bribery; and on July 8, 2019, to conspiracy to commit federal program bribery.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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According to court documents, from 2010 through 2017, Hutchinson stole and misappropriated thousands of dollars in state campaign contributions for his own personal use<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, he filed false federal income tax returns from 2011 to 2014 to conceal his conduct. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"In addition, Hutchinson was hired as outside counsel by Dr. Benjamin Burris, an orthodontist who owned and operated orthodontic clinics throughout the state of Arkansas. <\/span><\/p>\n

In exchange for payments and legal work, Hutchinson pushed legislation beneficial to Burris. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hutchinson was provided legal work to conceal the corrupt nature of his arrangement. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Hutchinson stole over $10,000 in state campaign funds for his personal use and also falsified his 2011 tax returns, including failing to report $20,000-per-month payments he received from one law firm and other sources of income he knowingly and intentionally concealed from his taxes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutchinson is still pending sentencing in Missouri for his role in a separate multimillion-dollar public corruption scheme that involved embezzlement, bribes, and illegal campaign contributions for elected public officials. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to court documents, Hutchinson accepted bribes in the form of monthly legal retainers and other things of value from employees and executives of Preferred Family Healthcare Inc. (formerly known as Alternative Opportunities Inc.), a Springfield, Missouri-based health care charity. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"In exchange for the bribes, Hutchinson provided favorable legislative and official action for the charity.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2022, Preferred Family Healthcare agreed to pay more than $8 million in forfeiture and restitution to the federal government and the state of Arkansas under the terms of a non-prosecution agreement, in which the charity admitted the criminal conduct of its former officers and employees.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Several former executives from the charity, former members of the Arkansas state legislature, and others have pleaded guilty in federal court as part of the long-running, multi-jurisdiction investigation, including the following:<\/span><\/p>\n