LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Nursing home owner Michael Morton is one of three people at the center of a judicial bribery scandal, but that doesn't mean his business is slowing.
Arkansas Business sat down with Morton for a cover story this week, and finds the 64-year-old ready to expand despite a tarnished image and a pending civil lawsuit.
Morton owns about 15 percent of the nursing homes in Arkansas. Four of them are among the 10 most profitable in the state. In fact, two years ago his properties generated nearly $149 million in revenue and $14 million in profit.
Within the elder care industry, Morton's name is respected. But outside the industry, his name has been tied to disgraced former judge Mike Maggio.
Prosecutors in Faulkner County accepted a guilty plea from Maggio for taking a bribe in exchange for lowering a judgement against one of Morton's nursing homes.
The money, $24,000, came from Morton's companies through Gilbert Baker. But Morton testified before the state Ethics Commission that the suspicious money was not a bribe, and that he was not trying to buy influence.
Morton has been an active political donor. Documents show that his companies have given more than $1.3 million to dozens of political races in Arkansas over the last 16 years.
Morton tells Arkansas Business that he gives politicians money so they'll at least listen to him when they're making policy, even if they don't ultimately see things his way.
Despite the legal issues Morton is adding to his businesses. Plans are set to start construction on his first assisted living center in Hot Springs, part of a new larger 120-bed nursing home.
And in January, Morton founded Premier Pharmacy Care of Sherwood, which provides pharmaceutical services to nursing homes.
Meanwhile, Maggio awaits sentencing. He faces more than three years in prison.
