Former Assistant Town Manager in Abingdon Pleads Guilty to Program Fraud

Abingdon, VIRGINIA – The former assistant town manager of Abingdon pled guilty today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon to one count of program fraud.

William Garrett Jackson, 37, of Abingdon, Virginia, waived his right to be indicted and pled guilty today to one count of theft from a program receiving federal funds.  At sentencing, Jackson faces a maximum possible penalty of ten years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

Jackson admitted today that from 2007 through 2014 he used his town-issued credit card, a card to be used only for official business, for personal expenses.  Jackson admitted to using the card for personal expenses such as purchasing a subscription to Netflix, buying groceries, paying his personal cell phone bills, purchasing electronics, and purchasing other unauthorized goods and services.  In all, Jackson spent $76,404 on the town’s credit card for personal expenses.

As part of his guilty plea, Jackson has agreed to pay back the full amount of the town’s loss, $76,404, by September 1, 2015.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Secret Service, Virginia State Police, and Town of Abingdon Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Lee and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Jayne are prosecuting the case for the United States.