Arkansas lawmaker pleads guilty to conspiracy charge [View all]
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An outgoing Arkansas state lawmaker pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring with a state senator and others to arrange kickbacks from government funding earmarked for economic development, federal prosecutors said.
Rep. Micah Neal, 42, a Republican from Springdale, said in U.S. District Court in Fayetteville that he received $38,000 from funds awarded to two entities by the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. One was a nonprofit corporation set up to arrange manufacturing jobs for disabled veterans, disadvantaged youth and those recovering from substance abuse. The other was a nonprofit college in Springdale.
"He's acknowledging what he did was wrong," lawyer Shane Wilkinson of Bentonville said. "I suspect that as these things unfold that Micah will be perceived on the low end of the totem pole of culpability."
According to prosecutors, Neal conspired with others, including "Senator A" — whom they described as a House member from 2007-2012, a senator since 2013 and the sponsor of a 2013 bill granting eight development districts up to $2 million each in state funds.
Read more: http://azdailysun.com/news/national/arkansas-lawmaker-pleads-guilty-to-conspiracy-charge/article_78e84199-f531-5634-8d11-6ad9845e5e4a.html
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