Chris Thyer
Chris Thyer Joins Centennial Bank’s Trust Department
Chris Thyer, the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, has joined Centennial Bank as a senior vice president in the bank's trust department. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Icon Communications Executive Houser Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud
Blaine Francis Houser, a senior vice president of Icon Communications in Russellville, waived indictment and pleaded guilty Tuesday to a single count of mail fraud in a case that cost his employer more than a quarter million dollars. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Presumed Innocence II (Gwen Moritz Editor’s Note)
When the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Little Rock is involved, the presumption of a defendant’s innocence must be more than theoretic, and confidence that the power of the government is being used fairly and wisely must be tempered.” read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Michael Heald, Bradley Paul Acquitted in Bank Fraud Case
Two former One Bank & Trust executives were found not guilty Monday after a three-week jury trial in federal court in Little Rock. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Three Former Employees Plead Guilty to Stealing $3.9M From Walnut Ridge Bank
Brenda Montgomery and Cindy Tate, both of Walnut Ridge, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, and Peggy Sutton of Biggers admitted guilt on Wednesday. They will be sentenced at a later date. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Dr. Richard Johns Indicted in Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone
Dr. Richard Johns, the Little Rock physician who was charged with 187 counts of prescription drug fraud in Lonoke County in May, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday as part of a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Seeco Unit to Pay $950K to Settle Mineral Trespass Claim in Arkansas
SWN Production (Arkansas) LLC has agreed to pay the federal government $950,000 to resolve claims that the company tapped unleased federally owned minerals in Conway and Van Buren counties over a three-year period. read more >
by Lance Turner -
At the Martha Shoffner Sentencing, Questions Over ‘Benefit,’ Jurisdiction
Prosecutors scored point after point Friday, but U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes sentenced former State Treasurer Martha Shoffner to 30 months in federal prison — less than half the time that the U.S. Attorney's office sought. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Update: Judge Sentences Martha Shoffner to 30 Months in Prison
U.S. District Court Judge Leon Holmes on Friday sentenced former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner to 30 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. read more >
by -
Operation Pilluted Defendants Go Back to Work; Richard Johns Still Faces Only State Charges
Johns is currently charged with 187 counts of prescription drug fraud in Lonoke County Circuit Court, and he’s scheduled for trial starting Oct. 7. read more >
King Coal CEO Stephen Parks Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud
King Coal CEO Stephen L. Parks of Little Rock has waived indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud relating to a fraudulent investment scheme. read more >
by Lance Turner -
Someone’s Son Is Dead (Gwen Moritz Editor’s Note)
I’m not a doctor or lawyer, but I am the only journalist who tried to warn the public about Dr. Richard Johns, so I’m hereby granting myself license to pour out my heart in a way that is — as I was reminded by the lawyer for the State Medical Board — “not objective.” read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Shoffner Prosecutors Get More Time to Respond to Filing
Federal prosecutors are being given more time to respond to a filing by the attorney for convicted ex-Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner. read more >
by Associated Press -
One Bank Customer Pleads Guilty to Reduced Federal Charge of Money Laundering
In a plea deal reached with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Little Rock, Albert Solaroli pleaded guilty to laundering $120,000 of the loan in exchange for having a pending bank fraud charge dismissed. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Fed Files Appeal Against Mountain Pure’s John Stacks
As expected, federal prosecutors in Little Rock have filed an appeal with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in hopes of preserving the seven convictions it won against John Stacks, owner of the Mountain Pure bottled water company. read more >
Arkansas Grand Jury Indicts 3 for Trying to Steal USDA Money
Three people, including two state Department of Human Services workers, were indicted Thursday as part of a scheme to steal federal Department of Agriculture money. read more >
by Mark Friedman -
Judge Sets Aside Guilty Verdicts Against John Stacks
A federal judge in Little Rock has reversed Mountain Pure LLC owner John B. Stacks' conviction on two counts of making false statements to the Small Business Administration and ordered a new trial on five other counts of which he was convicted by a jury in October. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
US Attorney Files to Dismiss Mail Fraud Charges Against Martha Shoffner
U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer of the Eastern District of Arkansas says his office has filed a motion to dismiss the mail fraud charges against former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Former Little Rock Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty; Scam Cost Government $1.1M
Christopher T. Craig pleaded guilty to just two cases of diverting tax payments to himself, but he admitted that the loss to the government was much greater. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
NLR Woman Pleads Guilty to $1M Payroll Fraud
Regina Lynn Paff, 53, who handled the payroll for AGL Corp. of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud filed directly by federal prosecutors. read more >
by Gwen Moritz -
Sign up for Daily E-news
Sign Up
THIS WEEK’S EDITION
This Week’s Stories
View Digital Edition
