Former Arkansas State Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson sentenced in bribery scheme

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A former state senator and member of a political family received a prison sentence for bribery Tuesday.

Jeremy Hutchinson received a 50-month sentence in federal court. Combined with existing penalties, he will serve a total of 8 years after pleading guilty to charges of filing a false tax return, conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and conspiracy to commit federal program bribery.

The Tuesday sentencing was in the Western District of Missouri court. The previous sentencing had been made in the Eastern and Western District of Arkansas courts.

Court records show the charges stem from Hutchinson’s work for Preferred Family Health Care Inc. of Missouri. While being paid by them as outside counsel and as a state senator, Hutchinson would hold up agency budgets and act on legislation.

Investigators found that between May 2014 and 2017 Hutchinson received $350,000 in monthly retainer payments from Preferred Family.