11:15 a.m.
From Angela Hatcher, at the courthouse
WSLS Reporter
ahatcher@wsls.com
Cory Shifflett, son of late Hardy Volunteer Fire Chief Jeffrey Shifflett, pleaded guilty to seven counts of embezzlement in Bedford County Circuit Court Tuesday morning. Cory Shifflett was also a member of the fire department.
It was revealed in court that Cory Shifflett admitted to Virginia State Police agents that he used a Hardy Volunteer Fire Department gas card to fuel his personal car. The only name printed on the card was that of the fire department, according to Commonwealth's Attorney Randy Krantz.
Krantz says Cory Shifflett was the least involved in an embezzlement scheme that Krantz says also involved Cory's father and stepmother. Krantz says Cory Shifflett took between $5 thousand and $10 thousand from the department. Together, Jefferey and Deborah Shifflett are accused of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the department. The incidents date back at least to 2007, according to Krantz.
All three family members were indicted by the grand jury in July. Deputies say Jeffrey Shifflett committed suicide a day after the trio was indicted.
Agents raided the family's home on Turner Branch Road, near Vinton, in March. Many big ticket items were seized, including cars and a tractor.
Deborah Shifflett's trial is set for January. Krantz says they have not determined if Cory Shifflett will testify against his stepmother. Krantz says Cory Shifflett has been cooperative in the investigation.
Cory Shifflett, who is now 23, would have been over age 18 at the time prosecutors say the scheme started. However, Cory Shifflett's attorney told the judge Cory was just a child doing what his father told him to do.
Cory Shifflett will remain out of jail on bond until his sentencing. There is no date set for the sentencing hearing.
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