Martha Shoffner

{{Infobox officeholder

|birth_date={{Birth based on age as of date|68|2013|5|21}}

|birth_place=

|death_date=

|residence=Jackson County, Arkansas, U.S.

|term_start=January 9, 2007

|term_end=May 21, 2013{{cite news |url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/92609/arkansas-treasurer-martha-shoffner-resigns-amid-charges-she-took-cash |title=Arkansas Treasurer Marth Shoffner Resigns Amid Charges She Took Cash |agency=Associated Press |first=Andrew |last=DeMillo |newspaper=Arkansas Business |date=May 21, 2013 |accessdate=June 15, 2013 }}

|governor=Mike Bebee

|predecessor=Gus Wingfield

|successor=Charles Robinson

|state_house2=Arkansas

|district2=79th

|term_start2=1997

|term_end2=2003

|predecessor2=

|successor2=

|party=Democratic

|spouse=

|alma_mater=Memphis State University

Arkansas State University

|profession=Real estate

}}

Martha Shoffner is the former state treasurer of Arkansas. A Democrat, she was first elected in 2006,{{cite web|url=http://www.artreasury.gov/?page_id=6 |title=Meet Treasurer Shoffner |publisher=Arkansas State Treasury |accessdate=17 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721033145/http://www.artreasury.gov/?page_id=6 |archivedate=July 21, 2011 }} taking office in January 2007. She was re-elected in 2010.{{cite news|url=http://arkansasnews.com/2010/11/03/election-changes-arkansas%E2%80%99-political-landscape/ |title=Election changes Arkansas' political landscape |publisher=Arkansas News |accessdate=17 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120195426/http://arkansasnews.com/2010/11/03/election-changes-arkansas%E2%80%99-political-landscape/ |archivedate=November 20, 2010 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2010/11/03/local_news/doc4cd16f61c0a76945567276.txt |title=Gov. Mike Beebe wins re-election |publisher=Paragould Daily Press |accessdate=17 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419034719/http://www.paragoulddailypress.com/articles/2010/11/03/local_news/doc4cd16f61c0a76945567276.txt |archivedate=April 19, 2012 }}

History

Shoffner was born and raised in Jackson County. Born to a farmer and a school teacher, she graduated from Newport High School and attended Memphis State University and Arkansas State University. She started working in advertising and is also a licensed real estate agent.

Career

Shoffner was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1996.{{cite web|url=http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/1999/R/Pages/MemberProfile.aspx?member=Shoffner|title=Representative Martha Shoffner (Representative)|publisher=Arkansas State Legislature|accessdate=17 May 2011}}

After being term limited, she was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the state auditor.{{cite web|url=http://epaper.ardemgaz.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=QXJEZW1vY3JhdC8yMDA3LzAyLzE4I0FyMDQ3MDA=&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin|title=Treasurer Martha Shoffner is holding onto the state's purse strings while bringing Arkansas art into her office. She still cherishes her family ties around Newport. |publisher=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|accessdate=17 May 2011}} In 2005, Shoffner announced her candidacy for State Treasurer on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse. After being outspent almost 3-to-1{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} Shoffner was elected to the office in 2006.

Arrest

On May 18, 2013, the FBI arrested Shoffner on a charge of extortion.{{cite news |url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/92576/state-treasurer-martha-shoffner-arrested-for-extortion-by-fbi |title=State Treasurer Martha Shoffner Arrested for Extortion by FBI |newspaper=Arkansas Business |date=May 18, 2013 |accessdate=June 15, 2013 }} Following her release on bail, Shoffner resigned as Arkansas State Treasurer on May 21, 2013.

She was subsequently indicted on June 5, 2013, by a Federal Grand Jury on six counts of extortion under color of official right, one count of attempted extortion under color of official right, and seven counts of receipt of a bribe by an agent of a state government receiving federal funds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edar/pr/former-arkansas-state-treasurer-martha-ann-shoffner-indicted-federal-charges-extortion|title=Former Arkansas State Treasurer Martha Ann Shoffner Indicted On Federal Charges Of Extortion And Receipt Of Bribes|date=2015-07-14|website=www.justice.gov|language=en|access-date=2019-12-30}} She was convicted of all counts on March 11, 2014, by a jury of seven women and five men.{{cite news |url=http://arkansasnews.com/news/arkansas/jury-finds-former-state-treasurer-guilty-extortion-bribery|title=Jury finds former state treasurer guilty of extortion, bribery |newspaper=Arkansas News |date=March 11, 2014 |accessdate=November 2, 2014}} On August 28, 2015, she was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/7928e2818e7c4efeb49933037286ce38|title=Ex-Arkansas treasurer gets 2 ½ years in prison|last=Lauer|first=Claudia|date=2015-08-28|website=AP News|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-30}}