Arkansas non-profit for kids bilked.
Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 19, 2018
Former Executive Director of Non-Profit Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy with Unnamed State Senator and Convicted Lobbyist
"A Former Executive Director of a non-profit pleaded guilty today to conspiring to unlawfully divert over $380,000 from South Arkansas Youth Services (SAYS), without the authority of the non-profit’s Board of Directors.
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According to plea documents, the scheme involved steering the non-profit’s funds to an Arkansas state senator and the lobbying firm of convicted lobbyist Milton “Rusty” Cranford, in exchange for the state senator agreeing to influence Arkansas officials regarding state contracts."
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“Jerry Walsh diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to help vulnerable children in southern Arkansas as a part of a corrupt scheme to influence the award of state contracts,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “Walsh’s actions ultimately risked destroying the non-profit he helped lead and undermining the public’s confidence in its elected officials. The Criminal Division and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the integrity of charitable programs, rooting out corruption, and ensuring that individuals like Walsh are held accountable for their actions.”
sauce:
www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-executive-director-non-profit-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-unnamed-state-senator-and