Hopewell city councilor found guilty of embezzling public funds

Hopewell city councilor found guilty of embezzling public funds

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- On Tuesday, a Hopewell city councilor was found guilty of embezzling public funds after hundreds of dollars were charged to a city credit card for food for a family member's funeral.

On Tuesday, July 29, Dominic Holloway, Sr., the councilor for Hopewell's seventh ward, stood trial for embezzling just under $700 in public funds in 2023. Holloway entered a not guilty plea earlier that day.

While his trial was scheduled to last two days, both the prosecution and defense rested early enough on day one that the case was able to conclude. Following about an hour of deliberation, a jury found him guilty.

8News was in the courtroom as the Commonwealth explained the accusations Holloway faced. According to prosecutors, Holloway asked former city clerk Brittani Williams to buy $690 worth of food from a restaurant on June 30, 2023, for a funeral for Holloway’s cousin. The food was then delivered to a family member's apartment.

Hopewell Mayor Johnny Partin saw these charges at a later time, said he did not approve them and and asked Holloway to pay the city back.

Todd DuVal, Holloway’s attorney, claimed the event at the apartment was a public “Stop the Violence” event -- one that was unrelated to Holloway's cousin's funeral. He further claimed that its preparation was underway before the death and the funeral service.

DuVal argued that Williams had been reimbursed for similar events in the past and that Holloway spoke to former city manager Concetta Manker about the event, who he said directed Williams to make this catering purchase with the city's credit card.

However, when Manker took the stand on Tuesday, she testified that Holloway only told her that he wanted an event paid for -- not what it was or what it was about. She added that she was actively trying to leave work for an emergency at the time Holloway asked her.

Manker said she and Holloway went by Williams' office and Manker only asked Williams "to assist" Holloway.

After prosecutors rested, Holloway's defense went on to argue that he did not "knowingly misuse" the city's funds, saying he did what he thought he was supposed to do. On these grounds, his attorney attempted to have the charge stricken.

Prosecutors hit back, saying that there was never a "Stop the Violence" event in the first place -- and the judge agreed, denying the defense's motion.

The defense brought its own witnesses to the stand, including Holloway, in an attempt to support its claims. However, jurors were not convinced -- after its brief deliberation, the jury found Holloway guilty of embezzling public funds.

Holloway is set to be sentenced on Sept. 2. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and an up to $100,000 fine.