[1] He pleaded guilty in 2017 to fraud relating to misuse of the state's surplus money.
[2] On January 4, 2017, Neal pled guilty to conspiring to direct $600,000 in state government funds to Ecclesia College and another non-profit organization in exchange for $38,000 in bribes.
[4] The plea agreement also singled out the president of the college—Oren Paris III—for direct involvement with the conspiracy.
[2] Paris stated that "neither I nor anyone associated with Ecclesia College has ever participated or engaged in any activity to provide money to Mr. Neal or any other legislator in exchange for the receipt of those funds.
"[5] Also indicted in the case is former state Senator Jon Woods of Springdale and Randell Shelton, Jr., of Alma in Crawford County, Arkansas.