Mayor Of Small VA Town Involved In Drug Trafficking, Election Fraud, Theft
Mayor of small Virginia town hit with numerous counts
http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=4578346
3/3/2006
WISE, Va. A small-town mayor in Virginia faces some 240 charges for alleged election fraud and corruption.
He's one of 14 people charged in what prosecutors say was a scheme to take over the town council of Wise, Virginia. Among those indicted were two police officers.
Prosecutors say once the schemers took power, the police department engaged in drug trafficking, and money and personal possessions were illegally seized from residents.
To make sure they won the election in 2004, prosecutors say the defendants offered town residents cigarettes, alcohol, and even pork rinds for their votes.
A special prosecutor says Mayor Ben Cooper -- who is also town manager and runs the police department -- faces "more time than he could possibly serve."
Wise is a town of about two-thousand in southwest Virginia.
