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Judge rejects guilty plea from ex-Ark. treasurer
Source: Associated Press
Judge rejects guilty plea from ex-Ark. treasurer
AP foreign, Saturday June 1 2013
ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press= LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner admitted Friday that she accepted $36,000 from a broker who did business with the state, but a federal judge rejected her attempt to plead guilty to a crime because she denied allegations that she intentionally steered business to the broker's firm.
In an impromptu hearing, Shoffner acknowledged taking a series of $6,000 cash payments — at times delivered in a pie box — from a broker who is cooperating with federal investigators. She told U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes, however, that she didn't deliberately direct an increasing share of the state's bond business to the broker.
Shoffner, 68, faced charges of attempt and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right under the Hobbs Act, a federal law often used to prosecute public officials for accepting bribes. Those charges carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
She was set to plead guilty Friday to a similar charge until Holmes asked her what she had done.
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AP foreign, Saturday June 1 2013
ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press= LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner admitted Friday that she accepted $36,000 from a broker who did business with the state, but a federal judge rejected her attempt to plead guilty to a crime because she denied allegations that she intentionally steered business to the broker's firm.
In an impromptu hearing, Shoffner acknowledged taking a series of $6,000 cash payments — at times delivered in a pie box — from a broker who is cooperating with federal investigators. She told U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes, however, that she didn't deliberately direct an increasing share of the state's bond business to the broker.
Shoffner, 68, faced charges of attempt and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right under the Hobbs Act, a federal law often used to prosecute public officials for accepting bribes. Those charges carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
She was set to plead guilty Friday to a similar charge until Holmes asked her what she had done.
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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10818364
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