More Arrest in Appy Election Fraud

Police have arrested the brother of a former mayor, the head of the town's rescue squad and a third individual on charges connected to alleged election fraud in Appalachia.

Virginia State Police arrested Rex Carroll Bush, Michael Marcus Varner and Samuel Richard Dandy June 7, according to court records.

If convicted on the charges, Bush could face maximum sentences totaling 35 years in prison. Varner and Dandy each could face a maximum sentence of 10 years.

The three men were indicted by a Wise County grand jury May 24, but the indictments remained sealed until they were arrested.

Bush, no age or address available, is charged with conspiring to prevent or hinder a citizen of Appalachia in freely exercising his or her right to vote; conspiring to participate in voting on more than one occasion in the May 4, 2004, town council election; aiding and abetting violations of the absentee voting procedures; and causing a false statement to be made on an election form. The indictment alleges the offenses took place in April 2004. Bush is the brother of Gary Bush, the former mayor of Appalachia who was ousted during the 2004 election.

Varner, 49, of 304 Harding St., Appalachia, is charged with perjury for allegedly making false statements before a special grand jury on Feb. 27. Varner is the captain of the Appalachia Rescue Squad.

Dandy, 65, no address available, is charged with lying on a Virginia voter registration application by stating on the form that he had not been convicted of a felony. The indictment alleges the offense took place on April 6, 1996. According to court records, Dandy's prior criminal record included burglary.

Further information about the charges against Bush, Varner and Dandy was not available by press time Monday.

In March a grand jury indicted 14 people, including Appalachia government officials, their family members, and police officers, whom prosecutors claim engaged in an elaborate conspiracy to ensure that three candidates were elected to fill the town's open council seats during the May 2004 council election.

Those indicted by the March grand jury included acting town manager Ben Cooper, who recently resigned his position as mayor but retained his position as a town councilman; Councilman Owen Anderson "Andy"? Sharrett, who has since resigned from council; and four town employees: police captain Benjamin Graham Surber, police officer Walter Mike Baber, parks and recreation director Owen Anderson "Dude"? Sharrett, and town bookkeeper Belinda Carolyn Sharrett, all of whom were suspended from their jobs without pay until their trials in October.

Special prosecutors Tim McAfee and Greg Stewart allege those involved in the scheme conspired to get Andy Sharrett, Cooper and Eddie Gollaway into office by tampering with absentee ballots, bribing voters and engaging in other election-related fraud. Gollaway was not implicated in the conspiracy.

From Former Norton Officer.


[ QUOTE ]
Bevins entered an Alford plea, which means he did not admit to committing the crimes but pleaded guilty because prosecutors had sufficient evidence to convict him. Some of the charges stem from an investigation into police corruption following Appalachia's May 2004 town council races.

[/ QUOTE ]

Who are the special prosecutors in the Appy election fraud case.
And who did they just release from a 76 yr prison term?

Former Norton Officer

[gcdevil22]

I hear with the right mix of pork rinds and cigarette packs, their sentences will be reduced to 2 years probation

This may be on here i don't know. But seemed interesting.

Conflict of interest in illegal gambling sting. From Tri-Cities.com


NORTON While he was investigating allegations of illegal gambling in Appalachia, special prosecutor Tim McAfee said a suspected runner not yet charged with a crime paid him a visit and warned him to back off. (He) came to my office and said if I prosecuted him, I d have to reveal something about my son, the attorney said Friday. He said my son had bought (tip board) tickets off him in the past. Thats true, McAfee said, but his son said he didn?t know he was doing anything illegal. I don?t want people to think I covered anything up. People should know if a family member of mine is involved, he said. McAfee said Friday he likely wont be prosecuting the gambling cases but not because of his sons involvement. Chad Dotson, Wise Countys commonwealths attorney, wants the cases and likely will get them so long as the state bar association finds he has no conflict of interest. Hes done legal work for the town in the past. McAfee would remain prosecutor in another, earlier investigation of wrongdoing in the small coal-mining town that of election fraud. McAfee and the Virginia State Police raided four suspected gambling establishments and seized more than $500,000 in assets and money earlier this year. They had conducted business in the Main Street buildings for years, the prosecutor said. Runners sell tickets linked with the results of various sporting events such as ball games and NASCAR races. Those who buy the winning tickets get a pool of money. Dylan McAfee, the son of the special prosecutor, was working for the town of Big Stone Gap a while back when a runner asked whether he wanted to buy a ticket. He said he didn?t know it was illegal and bought one. Two years later, he was watching the television news and saw his father and State Police officers conducting the gambling raid. That was the first Id heard of it, Dylan McAfee said. I learned about it when it came on the news, just like everybody else. I was probably one of the smallest customers ever. I think they just brought this up for political reasons. Dylan McAfee told his story to State Police investigators early on in the investigation, he said. Meanwhile, Tim McAfee continues to investigate allegations of voter fraud linked to the towns 2004 election. Three more people have been arrested following the unsealing of indictments handed down earlier this week. Rex Bush, brother of former Mayor Gary Bush, was indicted on charges he voted twice in the election. He also faces a perjury charge and a count associated with a violation of the absentee voting process. Michael Varner, an election official, was indicted on a perjury charge related to absentee balloting, and Samuel Dandy was indicted on a perjury charge that claims he failed to state he?d been convicted of a felony on his voter registration application. Other charges in the voter fraud case could follow, McAfee said.

[bellyright]

Im sure they will be more. I hope that with the new town manager which I know to be a very honest man that things are heading in the right direction for appy lets hope so

[aphrodite4ever]

I read in the paper that one of the mail carriers was convicted of something to do with this election fraud business, it was in todays times.

[Merlin]

Yeah, I think he was sentenced to 6 months jail time and a fine.

That was one of the sentences. His formal sentence will be in January i think the Bristol paper said. He could face 10 yrs. The federal probe into his functions has not concluded as of yet.
But will more than likely get the six months and $2,500 fine.
Others in the case have agreed to cooperate and will probably receive that or less.
Mr. Cooper will be facing the most charges, and the most time, according to words from the prosecuting attorney Mr. McAfee.

[aphrodite4ever]

that is horrible. Its almost as if they're getting away with it. I think the punishment should be more severe.

[MikMo]

I was saddened to hear about the "mail carrier" (I won't mention names). He is a preacher at a local church and I'd have never thought he'd do something like that. He even preached my mother's funeral.