Cranford denied bail in alleged murder-for-hire plot

Milton "Rusty" Cranford
Milton "Rusty" Cranford

Milton Russell "Rusty" Cranford was denied bail Thursday in part because a U.S. magistrate in Springfield, Mo., found allegations of an alleged murder-for-hire plot to be credible.

Cranford, head of the Cranford Coalition lobbying firm in Little Rock, and was an executive overseeing Arkansas operations of Preferred Family Healthcare of Springfield Mo. until last year. A federal grand jury in Springfield indicted Cranford on Feb. 20 on one count of conspiracy and eight counts of accepting bribes in an alleged kickback and bribery scheme.

He pleaded not guilty.

The government requested Cranford be denied bail, telling U.S. Magistrate David P. Rush that Cranford attempted to convince other witnesses to deny allegations against him.

One witness who refused, Philadelphia-based lobbyist Donald "D.A." Jones, was the subject of a request by Cranford that he be murdered, the U.S. attorney in Springfield claims, although no charges in the murder-for-hire investigation have been filed.

Cranford is set for trial May 7 in Springfield.

NW News on 03/30/2018

Sign up for breaking news
& daily updates delivered
right to your inbox.




Upcoming Events