Crossett Man Sentenced to 68 Months in Prison and to Pay $456,000 Restitution for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

            El Dorado, Arkansas - Kenneth Elser, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, announced that Kenneth W. Atkins, age 56, of Crossett, Arkansas, was sentenced today to 68 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and three counts of Money Laundering.  Atkins was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $456,000.  The Honorable Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in El Dorado. 

            Atkins was found guilty in October, 2015 after a seven (7) day jury trial.  According to evidence presented in the trial, from on or about January 2011 through on or about March 2012, Atkins conspired with another person to commit wire fraud against Georgia Pacific. 

            This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Arkansas State Police.  Assistant United States Attorneys’ Jonathan Ross, Ben Wulff and David Ferguson prosecuted the case for the United States.

           *  *  *    E N D    *  *  *

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records Website at www.Pacer.gov