Jonathan D. Ross U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas
A former Monroe County district court judge has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for making false statements to the FBI. The sentence was announced by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and handed down by United States District Court Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. on May 19, 2025.
Thomas David Carruth, aged 64 from Clarendon, served as an elected judge presiding over criminal and civil matters in Monroe County. In April 2022, Carruth met with the girlfriend of a defendant involved in a criminal case before him. During this meeting, which was recorded by the girlfriend, Carruth solicited sex and a lingerie show from her in exchange for dismissing her boyfriend's case.
Carruth asked the girlfriend questions such as “How do you feel about sex?” and “Do you mind letting me see you in it?” regarding lingerie. He also mentioned, “If you change your mind about seeing what an old man can do…”
The jury found that Carruth lied to FBI agents when questioned about the incident, denying any requests or insinuations of sexual nature with the girlfriend.
While Carruth was convicted of one count of making false statements, he was acquitted of charges related to bribery, honest services fraud, and violations of the Travel Act.
Jonathan D. Ross stated: “When judges exploit their positions for personal gain, they pervert justice which erodes public trust in the judiciary.” Alicia D. Corder from the FBI Little Rock Field Office added: "Officials who violate the public’s trust for their own personal gain have no place in our Arkansas communities."
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Nicholas W. Cannon and Trial Attorney Madison H. Mumma from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section with help from Assistant United States Attorney Julie Peters.
