Authorities are reporting a former Stone County Deputy Sheriff has been indicted on federal charges.
Stone County Sheriff Lance Bonds announced the indictment of Zachary H. Alexander, that was filed in the United States District Court of the Eastern District on May 3, stemmed from an ongoing investigation that began in 2020.
The sheriff stated that’s when he began suspecting Alexander, who was serving as the chief deputy at the time, of theft.
In a press release on Tuesday, Bonds stated he alerted his chief investigator at the time to begin an internal investigation of Alexander.
The sheriff stated his investigator reported back that a theft had allegedly occurred.
In March 2020, Alexander was terminated, and Bonds and Investigators notified the 16th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney of the department’s investigation and also requested the assistance of the Arkansas State Police.
Authorities presented a case file from the sheriff’s department to the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigative Unit, according to the press release.
ASP investigators along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began looking into Alexander concerning the sheriff’s department and other activities that Alexander was suspected to be involved in.
The sheriff stated Alexander had allegedly misappropriated funds and moved money around in accounts in an attempt to hide his activity.
Alexander is accused of altering paperwork involving department firearms.
The indictment says Alexander is charged with 11 counts: Counts one through seven involved activity involving the sheriff’s department, and counts eight through eleven involved a private business that Alexander had at the time.
Sheriff Bonds stated Alexander is being charged with theft, check “kiting” and firearms charges.
Alexander’s case is now pending in the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Arkansas.