Hopewell councilor suspended after being found guilty of embezzling public funds
VENN
HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- Hopewell councilor Dominic Holloway has been suspended after he was found guilty of embezzling public funds.
According to Hopewell City attorney Anthony Bessette, Holloway has been suspended from his city councilor position.
On Wednesday, July 30, Hopewell petitioned the court to seek a judge's order to suspend Holloway from his position, but a Virginia law already made his suspension active due to his conviction.
If Holloway does not file an appeal, his suspension will end and he will forfeit his city councilor seat.
During his suspension, the City Council will make a list of candidates to possibly take his place. Once the list is made, the city will file an amended petition asking the judge to decide who should fill the seat, either from the list or elsewhere.
On Tuesday, July 29, a jury found Holloway guilty for misusing public funds by using a city credit card to pay for nearly $700 of food for a family event after his cousin’s funeral.
And on Wednesday, Holloway was also found liable for thousands in unpaid rent, and the Hopewell District Court ordered his eviction.
His sentencing in the embezzlement case is scheduled for Sept. 2 He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison as well as a $100,000 fine.
