Former state Treasurer Martha Shoffner has been charged with mail fraud stemming from a 2013 extortion case that led her to her arrest and resignation.
Shoffner, who was arrested by FBI agents in May at her Newport home, faces 10 counts of mail fraud over accusations she mailed campaign checks — ranging from $200 to $5,000 — to a personal Wells Fargo credit card from Nov. 5, 2010 through Oct. 9, 2011, according to a statement from the office of U.S. Attorney Christopher Thyer.
Shoffner, 69, pleaded innocent at her June 27 arraignment to six counts of extortion, one count of attempted extortion and seven counts of accepting a bribe as an agent of state government. A criminal complaint against her alleges that she had accepted cash payments totaling at least $36,000 from an unnamed broker since mid-2010.
If convicted on the new charges, Shoffner could face up to 20 years in prison and/or up to $250,000 in fines, the news release states.
Her trial has been scheduled for March 3, but it wasn't immediately clear whether that date would change in light of the new charges.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
