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Men enter guilty pleas
$2 million theft of furniture nets censure for all
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Published: October 2, 2009
Updated: 10/01/2009 10:45 pm
DOBSON - Three men pleaded guilty Tuesday to embezzlement and larceny charges in connection with the theft of nearly $2 million in furniture four years ago.
The men were accused of stealing the furniture from a Bassett plant just outside of Mount Airy for themselves and their families, said Jennifer Canada, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Attorney General's Office.
They were among eight former Bassett employees who were charged.
Authorities began investigating the former employees in April 2005 after an anonymous caller tipped off officials at the Bassett Furniture Industries' headquarters in Bassett, Va.
Those employees eventually were fired.
Investigators have said that the stolen furniture was enough to fill seven tractor-trailers.
Jerry Tolbert, 59, of Mount Airy pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts of embezzlement in Surry Superior Court. Judge A. Moses Massey gave Tolbert a sentence of 18 months to two years, suspended, put him on probation for three years and ordered him to serve 30 days in jail, Canada said.
Massey also ordered Tolbert to cooperate with authorities and to perform 100 hours of community service, and fined him $2,500 and ordered him to pay $7,000 in restitution and court costs.
Gary Moser, 50, of Pilot Mountain pleaded guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of larceny, Canada said.
Massey put him on probation for two years, ordered him to cooperate with authorities and to perform 100 hours of community service, fined him $5,000, and ordered him to pay $6,000 in restitution and court costs.
Randall Lawless, 55, of Stuart, Va., pleaded guilty to seven counts of misdemeanor larceny, Canada said.
Massey put him on probation for two years, ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service, fined him $5,000, and ordered him to pay $3,000 in restitution and court costs.
Four other former employees also have pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges in connection with the theft. Three received prison sentences.
Lisa Martin, 51, of Mount Airy pleaded guilty in 2007 to 25 counts of felony embezzlement. She has not been sentenced.
jhinton@wsjournal.com
727-7299
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