Bond hearing set next week for Rusty Cranford - Arkansas Times

A notice was issued today in federal court in Springdale, Mo., for a bond hearing at 1:30 p.m. Monday for Rusty Cranford, who’s been jailed 18 months in Greene County awaiting sentencing for his role in the huge public corruption case involving Arkansas legislators.

Cranford, a former lobbyist and health care agency executive, pleaded guilty to bribing legislators to help the business of Preferred Family Healthcare. Sentencing has been delayed as Cranford cooperated in building federal cases against others. He’s likely to testify in a case against the former top executives of Preferred Family Healthcare, a Springfield-based multistate agency that reaped millions in Medicaid and other government payments in five states. Many others have been convicted and are serving sentences.

Cranford has noted that others were released pending sentencing in the case. They include former legislators Eddie Cooper and Hank Wilkins.

The government has resisted bond and Magistrate David Rush agreed earlier because of allegations that Cranford had once talked of hiring someone to kill a lobbyist who’d cooperated earlier in the investigation. He hasn’t been charged with that.

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Cranford renewed his request for bail and the government continued to oppose it. It’s unclear if the magistrate has made a decision on bail and the hearing will be about the conditions or whether he just wants to hear more from the opposing sides on whether bail should be granted. No order of explanation accompanies the notice. Cranford has asked to be heard.

In a filing Aug. 22, Cranford replied to the government’s continued opposition to his release.

As one would expect, this lengthy period of incarceration and Mr. Cranford’s unfailing cooperation have significantly and materially altered the circumstances of this case, tipping the detention analysis in favor of release. In light of these changed circumstances, this Court can be clearly convinced that Mr. Cranford, if released, will not harm anyone and will continue to appear in these proceedings.

His attorneys argue Cranford is no danger to anyone.

Prior to the government’s allegation in this case, he had never been convicted, or even accused of, harming or threatening to harm any person. Now, 18 months after his arrest, Mr. Cranford has accepted responsibility for his conduct and dedicated himself to cooperating with the government’s investigation. If Mr. Cranford is released, he is highly unlikely to harm anyone or engage in any other activity that jeopardizes that effort. Mr. Cranford’s extensive cooperation with
the government in this case is all but complete—he has put in countless hours and is now nearing the t at the end of the tunnel. Mr. Cranford is well aware that his behavior is being closely monitored by the government and that any misstep could imperil over a year of hard-earned goodwill. The current situation all but guarantees that Mr. Cranford will not only refrain from violent action, but will faithfully abide by the law and adhere to the conditions of his release.

There are also practical reasons Cranford isn’t a risk to flee, his attorneys argued. He has no money and no passport. And he expects to be subject to electronic monitoring. He also has personal reasons to stay put — to spend as much time with his family as possible before beginning his sentence.

Toward that end, his estranged wife has decided to relocate in order to be closer to her family in Southwestern Arkansas, not far from Mr. Cranford’s home in Texarkana. This move will allow Mr. Cranford to live at his home in the Texarkana area and regularly visit his children. Mr. Cranford will remain available to the government as needed for additional proffers or grand jury testimony.

The government has expressed concern about Cranford’s potential for drug abuse.  Cranford said he’d agree to drug abuse treatment and drug screening. His attorneys also said:

To place the Court and the government at ease, Mr. Cranford will submit to any additional conditions of release the Court sees fit to impose.

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