Ex-state Rep. Joe Armstrong keeps pension

Ex-state Rep. Joe Armstrong will collect his legislative pension in spite of his federal felony conviction for tax fraud.

Armstrong, a Democrat who represented Knoxville's 15th District from 1988 until this year, will draw a yearly pension of $28,744.08 -- or $2,395.34 per month, the maximum allowed.

"His felony conviction was not related to his service in the General Assembly, and the pension will not be forfeited," said Shelli King, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System.

A U.S. District Court jury found Armstrong guilty in August of filing a false tax return on a more than $300,000 windfall from sale of cigarette tax stamps but rejected more severe charges. Armstrong resigned his legislative seat in September.

Read more: http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2016/11/17/ex-state-rep-joe-armstrong-keeps-pension/94025474/