Sheriff Finds Himself On Wrong Side Of Law

Feds Claim Va. Sheriff's Department Sold Drugs That Had Been Seized

(CBS/AP)  A sheriff and 12 current and former officers in a hard-luck rural county that once billed itself the “Sweatshirt Capital of the World” were charged Thursday in a scheme to sell drugs seized from criminals back to the community.

A former postal worker, a former probation officer and five other people also were indicted by federal prosecutors. The charges included racketeering conspiracy, weapons charges, narcotics distribution, obstruction of justice and perjury.

H. Franklin Cassell — the sheriff of Henry County, a former textile hub situated about 50 miles from Roanoke — was quoted by investigators as saying the only way to acquire wealth is to be “a little crooked and not get caught.”

Cassell owns large tracts of land and a trucking company and has reported more than $20,000 in dividends yearly, the government said.

Prosecutors said that for the past eight years, cocaine, steroids, marijuana and other drugs that had been seized by the sheriff's department were resold to the public. A sergeant who agreed to cooperate with investigators was paid off by the ring to use his house for distributing drugs, authorities said.

“It is disgraceful corruption,” U.S. Attorney John Brownlee said.

The case was built on the work of sheriff's deputy James Alden Vaught. The government alleges Vaught used a home he owns in Martinsville as a "drug drop," reports CBS affiliate WDBJ-TV in Roanoke.

Cassell was charged with impeding the investigation by the FBI and federal drug enforcement agents and with money laundering. He was in custody Thursday and awaited a bail hearing in the afternoon.

Fourteen others also were in custody, and police had been in contact with the rest of those indicted except for one defendant who was at large, Brownlee said.

The sheriff's department has 96 officers. State police and officers from the Henry County city of Martinsville are helping to run the department in the meantime.

Cassell has been sheriff since 1992 in the county of about 58,000 residents along the North Carolina line.

The region used to be a center of the furniture and textile industries. But Henry County suffered about 10,000 layoffs in the 1990s as the factories closed. Its unemployment rate reached double-digits during the early part of this decade.

The area is now best known for the Martinsville Speedway, where NASCAR races are run twice a year.

A few years ago, former county administrator Sid Clower went to prison for embezzling more than $818,000 between 1993 and 2002 as the county sank into economic despair. He used the money for gifts and trips and to support an out-of-wedlock child.

[vaboy1]

that comment that was posted just now its ya boy Kevin every day all day holla at me and to my boy Marvin locked down in the city keep ya head up boy them crackers gone let u out real soon and when u get out come holla at me and we gone blow blue like the good old days

[vaboy1]

No wonder everybody in Martinsville been going to jail *** yall need to bust the city police to they the one's selling all the drugs if i wouldn't have left Martinsville i would've probably been locked up on some drug charges to let them tell it but yall all ready know its the block to Kohler Hill all day every day Purple City stand up.

[pminter24148]

MY SISTER WAS MURDERED IN JULY. SHE KEPT GOING TO POLICE FOR PROTECTION FROM EX BOYFRIEND TO NO AVAIL. GUESS THEY WERE TOO BUSY WITH THEIR SECRET ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT INNOCENT PEOPLE IN HENRY COUNTY.

[cna0316455]

No wonder there is a 4 year old triple murder(Short Family) UNSOLVED IN Henry Co., Va...the law enforcement officials there are to busy doing there own illegal doings and cant do their real jobs that they were elected to do ! This is a disgrace to the american public for something like this to happen....and apparently its been going on for quite a while...what took so long to arrest them ?

I say throw the key away and let them enjoy a "reunion" with some of the guys they already put in jail before them ....they deserve each other !

Nancy in VA

[ericv2644]

In pittsburgh The Sheriff Resigned and 3 of his top deputies went to federal prison. The Guy whose runing it now is of the same bunch of apples. What has changed?

[bob_burd]

Throw the greedy creep into a cell with some of the druggies he's busted in the past, and give him a jar of vaseline.

[agnim]

olebd

There isn't enough pay to ever satisfy GREED!

Many sheriff no doubt get paid less than Drug Dealer Sheriff Cassel and they don't run a drug cartels and lead a life of crime. LOL

[olebd]

Maybe if they paid these guys a decent wage this kind of stuff wouldn't happen. I'd be tempted too.

[cantshutup]

The sheriffe in our county of Greene in Missouri PHOTOGRAPHED his deputies joking and playing with the breasts and nipples of a young woman who was a victim of homicide...and yet the outstanding republican voters elected him sheriffe...Anytime he's on the news, that's the first thing that pops into my mind.

[raboz146]

Most Sherifs are elected officials... Anyone care to guess at his party affiliation??

[heresmy2cent]

Things aren't much different with sheriffs elsewhere in the USA. This guy in VA just happened to get caught.

The county sheriff in Allegheny county, PA (Pittsburgh) was forced to resign last week because of long time corruption in his department.

Just because these guys wear a badge doesn't mean much. Today, you need to watch your back when dealing with all "government" authorities particularly law enforcement, as you never know what side of the "law" they're on.

[rodgerz-2009]

I'm from "Hardcore Henry County," and I think this is hilarious... We make the National news every couple of years or so.. either for some horrific murder or some other crazy event, but man.... Sheriff Cassell and Major James Keaton had it all figured out.. Now they get to go to federal prison with some of the people they put there.. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT... LOL

[agnim]

Most legitimate drug dealer in town!

No chance of being arrested. LOL

"Legalize it, and"
Sheriff Cassell will advertise it. LOL

[adventurepa]

They should legalize cannabis.
It would remove the corruption and money.
At least from that illegal drug.

Jimmy47, said:
"We should demand drug test of out elected officials?"
That is a bad idea only because they are part of the profit machine that helps keep pot illegal in the first place. (Multi million dollar business)(Fact: elimanite the pot user in drug tests and the number of all other drug types goes way down. 40 million plus down)

Not to mention an invasion of one's privacy.
It also did not say they were using, only dealing and the tax payer would have to foot that bill.

[cntrydan]

Remember some things, folks. First, it took Federal Agents to break this, local and state did nothing. Second, it is likely duplicated in hundreds of communities across the nation, shielded by the "Code of Blue". Finally, according to our Supreme Court, any one of these gentlemen can lock you up for a seatbelt violation (see USSC Atwater vs. Lago Vista) and with the "justice system" heavily weighted in favor of a uniform, turn you into a convited felon just by pointing a finger. Or if you are lucky, just separate you from large amounts of money. I know.

[monopoly11]

ALL POLICE ARE CURUPTED AND WHAT CAN WHE DO ?????

[fascistusa]

OR you can stop making drug illegal.

What a concept.

What a racket.

Virginia is SO incredible corrupt. Personally, I don't care. It's the AMERICAN FASCISM I care about.

[rx7ward]

This kind of stuff has always gone on, and it's currently going on in every single law enforcement agency in the country, without exception. If you don't believe me, you're fooling yourself.

[delta5243]

wow, it's like something from a movie....

[blahblahbla5]

Hmmmm 12 people, with a common identifier (uniform) , engaging in illegal acts - I do believe that fits the definition of a Gang or at least an organized crime organization.