A Monroe County woman has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in a vote-buying case involving the 2014 race for Monroe County sheriff.
Documents show Betty Jane Best, also known as Betty Hawkins, will plead guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to buy votes.
Punishment calls for up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Best is set to appear April 11 in federal court in Knoxville, according to records. In exchange for Best's plea, 13 counts of vote buying would be dismissed.
Related: Pair indicted in vote-buying case
A federal grand jury indicted Best and Brian Keith "Wormy" Hodge in February.
Authorities allege the pair agreed in spring 2014 to pay for votes in support of Randy White, who ran for Monroe County sheriff in 2014.
According to a plea agreement, the pair recruited people to vote for White by absentee ballot – paying them 20 dollars to 40 dollars in cash.
Plea documents identify seven voters in the case.
White ended up winning the election. But a judge stripped the Republican of office for lack of proper qualifications.
Hodge's case is proceeding in U.S. District Court. He faces one count of conspiracy to buy votes and 13 counts of vote guying.
He has pleaded innocent and is free while awaiting trial, set for next month.