Sherwood woman sentenced to federal prison on money laundering charges
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Sherwood woman will be spending 15 months in prison after being sentenced on money laundering charges Monday.
The charges stem from Feb. 2021 when 63-year-old Karen Hoskins’ son Brian Jeffery Litton and eight others were indicted on conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and other charges.
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Litton was released to home detention with electronic monitoring with the condition that he reside in Arkansas and maintain regular contact with his probation officer and defense attorney.
Officials said in May Litton failed to report to his probation officer and defense counsel and his whereabouts were unknown. He was then declared a fugitive and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Later that month, Hoskins denied knowing Litton’s location and returned his electronic monitoring equipment, telling officials he had removed the equipment and was missing.
In August, Litton was found to be living in a wooded area of Pulaski County and Hoskins was spotted meeting with him in this location.
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During the investigation, officials learned that Hoskins was engaged in a money laundering scheme with her son in 2020 and 2021 that involved him bringing her money from drug sales that she concealed at her home and used to pay her son’s living expenses and bills.
Investigators said that Hoskins used more than $150,000 in drug proceeds to fund her gambling habit.
In October 2021, Hoskins was charged in a superseding indictment with harboring a fugitive and in July 2022, a second superseding indictment was returned charging her with conspiracy to money launder, in addition to five counts of money laundering in connection with her son’s drug trafficking activity.
Hoskins pleaded guilty in Aug. 2023 to one count of money laundering.
In addition to 15 months in prison, Hoskins was also sentenced to two years of supervised release, and she was ordered to pay a money judgement in the amount of $200,000 as part of the plea agreement.
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