Former Arkansas Sheriff's Deputy Sentenced to 33 Months for Embezzlement and Extortion
Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced that Zachary Hunter Alexander, former Chief Deputy for the Stone County Sheriff's Office, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for selling a stolen firearm and extortion under color of official right. Alexander, 40, of Lakeview, was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $153,786.84. The investigation revealed a pattern of corruption and embezzlement, including the misuse of a sheriff's office credit card for personal items and the cashing of fraudulent checks.
Key Takeaways:
- Zachary Hunter Alexander, former Chief Deputy for the Stone County Sheriff's Office, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for selling a stolen firearm and extortion under color of official right.
- Alexander was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $153,786.84, which includes pawn shop checks improperly cashed and dispensed to Alexander, fraudulent credit card purchases for personal items by Alexander on a Sheriff's Office credit card, and Alexander's fraudulent check kiting at various banks.
- The investigation revealed a pattern of corruption and embezzlement, including the misusing of a sheriff's office credit card for personal items and the cashing of fraudulent checks.
- Alexander pleaded guilty to selling a stolen firearm and extortion under color of official right on August 14, 2023.
- The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Arkansas State Police, Stone County Sheriff's Office, Stone County Sheriff's Foundation, Stone County Treasurer's Office, 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Statistics:
- 33 months: the sentence handed down to Alexander by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky
- $153,786.84: the amount of restitution Alexander was ordered to pay
- May 3, 2022: the date a federal grand jury indicted Alexander on an 11-count indictment
- August 14, 2023: the date Alexander pleaded guilty to selling a stolen firearm and extortion under color of official right
- 2: the number of Remington 700, 6.5 Creedmore sniper rifles purchased by Alexander for the Stone County Sheriff's Office in May 2019
- $1,465.90: the amount of money paid by the Stone County Sheriff's Foundation to purchase the two sniper rifles
- 1: the number of sniper rifle that Alexander sold for his personal benefit in December 2019
Sources:
- United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
- Arkansas State Police
- Stone County Sheriff's Office
- Stone County Sheriff's Foundation
- Stone County Treasurer's Office
- 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's Office
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives