Former Arkansas state senator, others named in indictment

A former Arkansas lawmaker and two others have been named in a federal indictment released Thursday alleging corruption involving state funds intended for economic development in a case in which another former lawmaker has already pleaded guilty.

Former Sen. Jon Woods of Springdale is charged with mail and wire fraud in the 13-count indictment that also names Oren Paris III and Randell Shelton Jr.

The indictment alleges Woods, a Republican who served in the state House from 2007-2012 before being elected to the state Senate in 2013, and Republican former Rep. Micah Neal of Springdale directed the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars from the state's general improvement fund that is intended for economic development to specific, unnamed entities.

Neither Woods nor Neal sought re-election in 2016.

According to the indictment, Woods and Neal, using their positions as state lawmakers, "exerted substantial control and authority over a specific amount of NWAEDD GIF monies, and the NWAEDD awarded these GIF monies only to eligible organizations approved by Woods and Neal and in the amounts designated by Woods and Neal."

Read more: http://www.hotsr.com/news/2017/mar/04/former-arkansas-state-senator-others-na/