# Arkansas State Treasurer caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 20, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872 "2013-05-20T21:32:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [May 20, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/1 "2013-05-20T21:32:39Z")
Well this is awkward. đ Our duly elected state treasurer got hauled off to jail this weekend. It started last year when she sold some bonds early and cost the state 400 grand. The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee made inquiries last Sept and notified the FBI.
It gets worse. :smack: Sheâs allegedly been receiving a 1000 a month to favor one broker for all the state transactions. Cash delivered inside a pie box.
Ouch. :rolleyes:
No surprise that our Governor, Attorney General, Senator are all demanding that she resign. ASAP
[The FBI Complaint](http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/katv/documents/20130520_ShoffnerSuit.pdf). Sheâs charged with violating the Hobbs Act.
> **[Auditing committee told law enforcement of Shoffner findings](https://katv.com/archive/auditing-committee)**
>
> LITTLE ROCK - Auditors found Shoffner sold premature bonds, reportedly costing the state a return of more than $430,000.
> **[UPDATE: Ark. treasurer accused of taking cash from broker](https://katv.com/archive/update-ark-treasurer-accused-of-taking-cash-from-broker)**
>
> LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner made her first appearance in federal court Monday after being arrested on federal extortion charges Saturday.
> [@](#):
>
> It may have taken multiple requests and a state approved subpoena just to get Shoffner to show up to a Legislative Joint Auditing Committee meeting in September 2012, but Saturday the investigation into her management of funds apparently caught up to her, with federal extortion charges.
>
> âThe things that were brought to legislative audit that prompted the committeeâs concern were the investment practices, and the amount of money that seemed to be lost,â said Arkansas State Representative Kim Hammer about the allegations against Shoffner.
>
> Hammer is co-chair for the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee, and said heâs not sure if âmisuse,â of funds is the right word to use when it comes to Shoffnerâs investments. However, the committee noticed enough peculiar things that it wanted to get law enforcement involved.
>
> âPrimarily was it just poor management practices or was something else going on,â Hammer wondered.
>
> âAs a result of a committee meeting that happened last year we felt that there was enough information to turn over to the proper authorities, to at least let them take it to the next level that we as a committee could not.â
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/2 "2013-05-21T12:34:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Before Arkansas State Treasurer, Martha Shoffner, was put behind bars on extortion charges, it was a September 2012 that first brought her into the public eye.
Wut. Is this what âjournalismâ has come to?
ETA: Holy shit, I canât even read the rest of that article. It was apparently written by a coked-up orangutan.
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/3 "2013-05-21T12:37:57Z")
Hereâs an [article](http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/92576/state-treasurer-martha-shoffner-arrested-for-extortion-by-fbi) from Arkansas Business that appears readable.
I do love a good official corruption investigation. Should make a good news cycle for the week.
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/4 "2013-05-21T16:43:25Z")
Am I the only one kind of shocked to hear that Arkansas elects Democrats to statewide office?
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/5 "2013-05-21T16:51:28Z")
I just want to know if I get any of that Real Estate Tax back.
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### Author:  [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/6 "2013-05-21T16:57:09Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Am I the only one kind of shocked to hear that Arkansas elects Democrats to statewide office?
This is the state that made Bill Clinton governor. Hard to be surprised that they might elect some other democrats to high office.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/7 "2013-05-21T17:42:53Z")
Most of Arkansas has always been Democrat. Thereâs a region in Northern Arkansas that is traditionally Republican. Republicans did get a majority in the state legislature this year. [First time in over 100 years.](http://swtimes.com/sections/news/republican-control-arkansas-legislature-ties-no-9-story-2012.html)
The saddest part of this State Treasurer fraud is the betrayal of her office. For a 1000 bucks a month. Theyâre estimating she got 36,000 in three years. Not very much considering the long Federal prison sentence sheâll eventually get. Sheâs in her late sixties and will probably die in prison.
Weâve had very few abuses of office like this. But every once in awhile it happens in every state.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/8 "2013-05-21T17:54:52Z")
Thatâs the thing that astonishes me about most political corruption - that the prices are _so low_.
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### Author:  [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/9 "2013-05-21T18:00:38Z")
Maybe people feel better taking little bribes for favors because then it doesnât feel like theyâre committing a big crime. âOh, it was just a little gift to show his gratitude. Not a big olâ _bribe_.â
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/10 "2013-05-21T18:02:48Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Thatâs the thing that astonishes me about most political corruption - that the prices are _so low_.
She was using the grand a month to pay the rent, which I understand is somewhat lower than the national average in our fair state. đ
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/11 "2013-05-21T23:09:05Z")
Martha Shoffner resigned today.
Thatâs a relief. Now the Governor can appoint someone to finish her term.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/12 "2013-05-21T23:18:16Z")
Wow. $1000 a month. Thatâs really worth going to jail for.
WTF Arkansas? At least hire competent corrupt officials. They could take you for millions. Prosecuting this will cost more than she stole.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/13 "2013-05-21T23:37:46Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Thatâs the thing that astonishes me about most political corruption - that the prices are _so low_.
I think once you accept a small bribe or other corruption, itâs difficult to raise your rates. The person offering the bribes can just threaten to expose you. So the lesson is to ask for a lot of money upfront.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2013, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/14 "2013-05-21T23:59:01Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> Prosecuting this will cost more than she stole.
Perhaps the [Arkansas State Police](http://www.statetroopers.org/TOY/images/TOY061008.jpg) will take her out by the [river](http://www.arkansasbigbass.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Arkansas_River_Barge_North_Little_Rock_6778.jpg) make her kneel down and save us some taxpayer money.
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### Author:  [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2013, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/15 "2013-05-22T01:20:07Z")
> [@silenus](#):
>
> Thatâs the thing that astonishes me about most political corruption - that the prices are _so low_.
Not specifically political corruption. Iâm always amazed when I read about someone whoâs going to lose his job, go to jail, etcâŚfor some paltry amount of money embezzled/stolen.
I must admit that this case is especially astonishing, indeed. _$ 1000_/month for someone with such a high office?
Count on me for not being that cheap. If Iâm going to go to jail, I want to have at least bragging rights with fellow inmates about how much I stole.
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### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/16 "2013-05-22T02:18:07Z")
> [@friedo](#):
>
> Wut. Is this what âjournalismâ has come to?
>
> ETA: Holy shit, I canât even read the rest of that article. It was apparently written by a coked-up orangutan.
As a longtime supporter of AARP (the Australasian Association of Recovering Pongids), I must protest: Typically, a coked-up orangutan can write _much_ better.
:
đ
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### Author:  [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/17 "2013-05-22T02:50:30Z")
Yeah, **clairobscur** , if youâre gonna go down that road, go big or go home. Have the other guys at the Federal Correctional Facility watch the TV news reports of your luxury villa and sports cars getting auctioned; tell them stories of partying with the 'ballers; show them pics of your kids graduating from Dartmouth and Sarah Lawrence â theyâll give you respect đ
Her yearly salary as treasurer was a not exactly princely $54,594 ([Source 1](http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/drupal/content/book-states-2010-chapter-4-state-executive-branch), [Source 2](http://www.sunshinereview.org/index.php/Arkansas_state_government_salary)), so $12K/yr is a nice bonus relative to that, but yeah totally not worth getting sent up on federal extortion charges IMO.
And Arkansas was one of the last holdouts of the old Democrat establishment⌠you voted Democrat because your Daddy and Great-grandpappy voted Democrat since before Reconstruction and the only contest was whether you were old-school good ole country boy Democrat or one of them newfangled hep cat college-kid Democrats.
ETA: I think even the orangutans are not willing to work for what local-market media are paying copy editors these days. Can we make âwritten by a coked up orangutanâ the next Board Meme?
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/18 "2013-05-22T03:31:13Z")
Reports say Martha Shoffner wanted to avoid her commute from Newport AR to Little Rock. Thatâs why she needed the money for the apartment.
But, she had been a state representative for two terms in the 90âs. Forced out by term limits. This was her 2nd term as State Treasurer. With that background it seems like she would have figured out the commute problem years and years ago.
It is a hundred miles. About an hour and half drive. Iâm pretty sure state legislators get a travel stipend. Donât know about constitutional officers.
Anyway, I guess it was hubris. Iâm in power and can do what I want. Thatâll end badly every time.
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### Author:  [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/19 "2013-05-22T05:08:52Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#):
>
> Can we make âwritten by a coked up orangutanâ the next Board Meme?
Can we make it âwritten by an orangutan on dried frog pillsâ?
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2013, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arkansas-state-treasurer-caught-with-her-hand-in-the-cookie-jar/658872/20 "2013-05-22T11:10:41Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#):
>
> And Arkansas was one of the last holdouts of the old Democrat establishment⌠you voted Democrat because your Daddy and Great-grandpappy voted Democrat since before Reconstruction and the only contest was whether you were old-school good ole country boy Democrat or one of them newfangled hep cat college-kid Democrats.
No, itâs because we want to[legalize marijuana.](http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/medical-marijuana-supporters-are-back-in-arkansas/Content?oid=2695194) đ
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