Judge Johnny E. Morrison of the Circuit Court for the City of Portsmouth (Va.) sentenced Alan F. White, ex-treasurer of Int’l Ass’n of Fire Fighters Local 539, Dec. 5 to 12 months in jail on each of 4 embezzlement counts. The sentences were to run consecutively, but, Morrison suspended all jail time on the condition that White repay $44,000. Morrison also placed White on unsupervised probation until the final payment is made.
A state grand jury indicted White in June on 9 embezzlement counts. He pled guilty to 4 misdemeanor counts just before sentencing. In the plea deal, prosecutors withdrew 5 felony counts. White has repaid $13,000, including a lump-sum installment of $10,000, to the local, which is also known as the Portsmouth Prof’l Firefighters. He will make $500 monthly payments. White served as treasurer for 6 years and resigned in Apr. when an audit revealed discrepancies in the local’s books.
Union officials, who were present in court, approved of the plea agreement and restitution plan. Dues at the local start at about $240 a year. [Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk) 12/6/01]