A former West Memphis city councilman has admitted to being an intermediary who helped pass bribes to the former deputy director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
Former councilman Phillip Carter pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal conspiracy charge. The deputy director, Steven Jones, pled guilty last October to conspiracy and bribery charges for providing assistance two mental health companies in exchange for gifts.
Trinity Behavioral Health Care and Maxus Inc. were suspended from the state's Medicaid program last year after the state learned of the scheme.
According to court records, Carter and others conspired to provide at least $10,000 and other things of value to Jones, who then provided inside information that benefited the companies.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Jones will be sentenced Oct. 8.
