A former sheriff of an economically depressed Virginia county
has entered a not guilty plea in federal court to charges that he conspired
with his deputies to sell drugs they seized from criminals since 1998. Two
of the former officers have entered guilty pleas in the case and will
testify for the government in the federal case.
Former Sheriff H. Franklin Cassell, who retired two weeks ago, was arraigned in U.S. District Court in Roanoke along with a Henry County captain and two deputies. All entered not guilty pleas.
The federal indictment said Sheriff Cassell, 68, allowed 12 of his deputies or officers to sell cocaine, steroids, marijuana and other drugs that were seized from criminals. The also stole guns and other seized evidence, the indictment said.
A former sergeant, James Alden Vaught, and a civilian, William Randall Reed, will plea guilty to racketeering conspiracy, narcotics distribution, weapons counts, obstruction of justice and perjury and will testify against Cassell, sources said.
Cassell, who is also charged with impeding the investigation of federal agents and money laundering, faces up to 53 years in prison if convicted.
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