Former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison following her conviction last year on federal bribery and extortion charges.
U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes handed down the sentence Friday.
The 71-year-old Democrat was convicted last year of steering state investments to a broker who gave her $36,000 in cash, including $6,000 in a pie box. She resigned in 2013, days after she was arrested by FBI agents in a sting operation.
Her attorney had argued that Shoffner, because of her age, should receive a sentence of 12 months to 18 months in prison, with half in home detention. Federal prosecutors recommended a sentence of 15 to nearly 20 years in prison, saying a lighter sentence would send the wrong message about public corruption.
Shoffner fought back tears as she addressed the court during her federal sentencing hearing. She apologized to the people of Arkansas for her actions in the bribery and extortion case.
Holmes said Shoffner must report to federal prison by Nov. 2.
