Georgia Republican Pleads guilty to theft of veterans memorial fund

GEORGIA MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN VETERANS MEMORIAL

FUND THEFT -- The District Attorney said four years in

prison is an appropriate sentence, "particularly with

the breach of public trust that's occurred in this case."







Story here... http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/251/story/186907.html

Story below:

Learn More about how to get a VA Loan today -- Click Here


THE DAILY BRIEFING -- AUDIO FEED FROM LARRY SCOTT
11-30-2007 -- to listen, click here...


-------------------------

Man pleads guilty in Oconee County veterans memorial fund theft

The Associated Press --



WATKINSVILLE, Ga. -- A man who once ran for state Senate may get prison time and a fine after pleading guilty to stealing more than $37,000 that had been donated to a veterans memorial foundation.

Jim Ivey, who was the chief financial officer for the Oconee County Veterans Memorial Foundation, had been set to go on trial next week. Instead, he pleaded guilty to 24 counts of theft by taking and agreed to a 20-year sentence for stealing money that had been donated to the foundation. The deal calls for him to serve up to four years in prison with the rest on probation.

Oconee County Superior Court Judge Lawton Stephens is expected to sentence Ivey after Jan 1.

Ivey's attorney, Kim Stephens - no relation to the judge - plans to ask for the four years to be served on probation.

But District Attorney Ken Mauldin said four years in prison is an appropriate sentence, "particularly with the breach of public trust that's occurred in this case."

Ivey helped found the nonprofit committee in 2001 to build a monument to the county's fallen soldiers.

In 2004 and 2005, Ivey, who was facing financial trouble, drew more than $37,000 from the foundation, according to the indictment. Oconee officials were alerted to the withdrawals in 2005, when checks written from the foundation's account started bouncing.

Ivey apologized in December 2005 at an Oconee County Commission meeting and returned slightly less than $30,000 of the money.

A group of Oconee County residents since has reorganized the foundation with a 12-member board that must approve most spending.

Ivey, a Republican, made an unsuccessful bid for state Senate District 46 in 2000.

-------------------------

Larry Scott --

Sphere: Related Content