A former Arkansas state senator was sentenced to 46 months in prison for accepting multiple bribes and tax fraud.
Jeremy Hutchinson, 48, of Little Rock, pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return and conspiracy to commit federal program bribery.
According to court records, from 2010 through 2017, Hutchinson stole and misappropriated thousands of dollars in state campaign contributions for his own personal use and then filed false federal income tax returns from 2011 to 2014 to conceal his conduct.
In addition, Hutchinson was hired as outside counsel by Dr. Benjamin Burris, an orthodontist who owned and operated orthodontic clinics throughout Arkansas. In exchange for payments and legal work, Hutchinson pushed legislation beneficial to Burris. Hutchinson was provided legal work to conceal the corrupt nature of his arrangement.
Hutchinson stole over $10,000 in state campaign funds for his own personal use and also falsified his 2011 tax returns, including failing to report $ 20,000-per-month payments he received from one law firm and other sources of income he knowingly and intentionally concealed from his taxes.
Hutchinson is still awaiting sentencing in Missouri for similar conduct.
