Lobbyist Sentenced In Arkansas Corruption Scheme

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A lobbyist who pleaded guilty to bribing three former Arkansas state lawmakers, including the governor’s nephew, will be spending the next 7 years in prison following his sentencing in federal court in Springfield.

58-year-old Rusty Cranford was facing 10 years in federal prison for bribing Republican Sen. Jon Woods, Democratic Rep. Hank Wilkins and Republican Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson. Prosecutors say Cranford paid the bribes to benefit the Missouri-based nonprofit Preferred Family HealthCare, whose former executives also face charges.

Of the lawmakers involved, Woods was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Wilkins and Hutchinson have both pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Hutchinson is the nephew of Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Cranford received more than $3.7 million in the scheme. He’s been ordered to repay the money. The government will seize some of his property in Florida and Arkansas, but it’s worth only a fraction of the judgment. He also receive credit for the past 22 months he’s served in the Greene County Jail.