Zachary Hunter Alexander, the former Chief Deputy for the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for selling a stolen firearm and extortion under color of official right. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and delivered by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.
Alexander, 40, of Lakeview, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 3, 2022. The indictment included charges of bank fraud, selling a stolen firearm, and multiple counts of extortion under color of official right. On August 14, 2023, Alexander pleaded guilty to selling a stolen firearm and extortion under color of official right.
The investigation determined that Alexander purchased two Remington 700 sniper rifles in May 2019. He later received reimbursement from the Stone County Sheriff’s Foundation for these rifles on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office. However, in December 2019 he sold one rifle that belonged to the office for his own benefit.
In February 2020, Alexander used his position to obtain $3,809.10 from the Stone County Treasurer under the pretense that it would reimburse a pawn shop for equipment bought for the Sheriff’s Office. Instead, after receiving the check and visiting the bank with the pawn shop owner—who endorsed it—Alexander kept all the cash himself. Investigators found no items were actually purchased from the pawn shop during this or similar incidents cited in court documents.
Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Alexander to two years’ supervised release following his prison term and ordered him to pay $153,786.84 in restitution. This amount covers improperly cashed pawn shop checks given to Alexander, fraudulent personal purchases made with a Sheriff’s Office credit card, and fraudulent check kiting activities at various banks.
Federal sentencing does not allow parole.
The case was investigated by Arkansas State Police with support from several local agencies including the Stone County Sheriff’s Office and its foundation as well as assistance from federal authorities such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“There is no parole in the federal system.”
