Former Arkansas lawmaker found guilty in corruption case
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Former Arkansas senator Jon Woods was convicted Thursday in a scheme to receive kickbacks in exchange for directing state funds to a college and a nonprofit group, KATV content partner KFSM Channel 5 News reported.
Woods was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit honest service fraud, 14 counts of honest service wire fraud and one count of mail fraud, according to the Fort Smith TV station. He was found not guilty of two counts of honest service wire fraud.
Woods was convicted of steering state funds to Ecclesia College in Springdale in exchange for kickbacks. He was indicted last year along with Oren Paris III, the former president of the college, and consultant Randell Shelton.
Paris pleaded guilty April 4.
Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin issued a statement following the conviction, saying, “Today’s news that Senator Jon Woods was convicted of corruption reminds us that we must demand integrity and accountability from our elected officials. It is also a reminder that taxpayers deserve better than the out of control and unconstitutional GIF system we endured for so long.”
