Virginia Mayor Larry Yates Arrested on Public Funds and Credit Card Fraud Charges
Charges Involve Public Funds and Credit Cards
WCYB reports that public files indicate Yates faces accusations of public officer embezzlement along with an infraction related to utilizing public resources exceeding $1,000 over a 12-month timeframe. Furthermore, custody records document counts of credit card theft pertaining to a card or card number, alongside credit card fraud totaling at least $1,000 across a six-month duration. Additional entries concern receiving goods obtained through credit card fraud and offenses involving amounts below $1,000, as reported by Yahoo.
Under Virginia law, public officials entrusted with government funds face strict statutory prohibitions against misuse or misappropriation. Section 18.2-112 of the Code of Virginia governs the embezzlement of public or other funds by government officials, while Section 18.2-112.1 addresses unauthorized personal use of government-owned or government-funded assets. Furthermore, state statutes distinguish between the physical or digital theft of a credit card number and the subsequent fraudulent use of that payment data. Public records have not yet revealed the specific transactions underlying the charges or the total dollar amount authorities believe was involved, and Yates remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Town Council Response and Prior Financial Safeguards
The arrest prompted an official statement from the Haysi Town Council acknowledging that the legal action followed several months of administrative tightening. According to the council, officials spent the previous several months updating business procedures, increasing financial oversight, and adding restrictions and controls to municipal operations. The statement did not identify what initially prompted those internal administrative changes or connect any particular safeguard to the specific transactions listed in the criminal case.
The council emphasized that town operations would continue uninterrupted while law enforcement and the courts handle the proceedings. Town officials also noted that Yates’s status as an elected official required the municipality to follow strict legal and procedural rules governing how the local government could respond to the arrest. The council pledged to continue protecting public funds and strengthening accountability as the legal process moves forward.
Court Appearances and Legal Next Steps
Online court records show that Yates appeared for a hearing in Dickenson County on September 14, three days prior to his reported arrest, according to News 5 and WCYB. WCYB reported that it contacted the Virginia State Police and the Haysi Police Department for additional information regarding the investigation but had not received further details when its report was updated.