Ex-state senator gets 18 months for fraud

FORT SMITH -- Former state Sen. Jake Files (R) was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for offenses that included obtaining state General Improvement Fund money for a ball-field project and then using it for his own purposes.

In a 90-minute sentencing hearing, Western Arkansas Chief U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III emphasized the theft of public money by an elected official in a position of public trust and the damage Files' actions had caused in destroying the public's confidence in elected officials.

"To me, this is an egregious violation of public trust," Holmes said.

He said Files' position of public trust separated him from others who have committed white-collar crimes, even though the $26,945.91 in taxpayer money Files has admitted taking is less than what others whom Holmes has sentenced have stolen.

Holmes ordered Files to pay $83,903.47 restitution for the $26,945.91 in state General Improvement Fund money he obtained for the River Valley Sports Complex ball-field project and for the $56,957.56 in bank loans he received by pledging collateral he didn't own.

Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jun/19/ex-state-senator-gets-18-months-for-fra/