Former Arkansas State Treasurer Martha Ann Shoffner Indicted on Federal Charges of Extortion and Receipt of Bribes

LITTLE ROCK—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Randall C. Coleman, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that a federal grand jury indicted former Arkansas State Treasurer Martha Ann Shoffner, age 68, of Newport, on six counts of extortion under color of official right, one count of attempted extortion under color of official right, and seven counts of receipt of a bribe by an agent of a state government receiving federal funds. A forfeiture allegation of $4,020 is also included in the indictment.

The statutory penalty for extortion and attempted extortion under color of official right, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), is not more than 20 years’ incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible find of up to $250,000 and not more than three years’ supervised release. The statutory penalty for receipt of a bribe by an agent of a state government receiving federal funds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(B), is not more than 10 years’ incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible find of up to $250,000 and not more than three years’ supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

An indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.