Two former officials from Marion — one in state government and the other in law enforcement — were sentenced Thursday for their involvement in a bribery scheme, U.S. Attorney Christopher Thyer said in a statement.
Steven B. Jones, 51, who previously served as deputy director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. He pleaded guilty in October 2014 to conspiracy and bribery charges as the recipient of bribes.
Jones was also given one year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $6,000 fine, Thyer said.
Phillip W. Carter, 47, a former probation officer in Crittenden County and West Memphis city councilman, was given a 24-month prison sentence and two years supervised release after admitting he was one of two intermediaries to pass the bribes to Jones, according to the news release.
Carter and a local pastor served as intermediaries in a bribery scheme involving Jones and Theodore Suhl, the owner of two mental health services businesses specializing in the treatment of minors, according to plea agreements.
Thyer said Jones admitted that he "solicited and accepted multiple cash payments and other things of value from Suhl" that "benefited Suhl and his businesses."
Jones and Carter admitted to holding periodic meetings at restaurants in Memphis and rural Arkansas, where they concealed some of their dealings, Thyer said. Cash payments were funneled through the pastor's church, and conversations over the phone were spoken in code to hide the activity, he added, citing the plea agreements.
Suhl was indicted in December on conspiracy and bribery charges, Thyer said. He is awaiting trial.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.