Lobbyist sentenced to 7 years in Arkansas corruption scheme

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A lobbyist who pleaded guilty to bribing three former Arkansas state lawmakers, including the governor’s nephew, has been sentenced to seven years in prison without parole.

Rusty Cranford was sentenced in federal court Monday for bribing Republican state Sen. Jon Woods, Democratic state Rep. Hank Wilkins and Republican state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson. Prosecutors say Cranford paid the bribes to benefit the Missouri-based non-profit 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 Arkansas’ Republican governor, Asa Hutchinson.

Cranford was also ordered to repay more than $3.7 million that prosecutors say he received in the scheme. Cranford faced up to ten years in prison.