LITTLE ROCK – A former Arkansas Senate president pro tem has reported to federal prison to begin serving an 18-month sentence for spending more than $150,000 in campaign funds on personal items.
Former Sen. Paul Bookout is being held in an administrative security penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois, according to the facility’s website. A message left at the prison asking when Bookout reported was not immediately returned.
Bookout was sentenced in March to 18-months in prison, two years supervised release and ordered to repay the $150,000. He was given until Tuesday to report to prison.
Bookout pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge for spending campaign funds on clothing, liquor, a sound system and other personal items.
Bookout is a Democrat from Jonesboro.
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