Mayor Steals $60k In Christmas Toy Money Intended For Children

[The Straight Story]

Yesterday, Billy E. Wilson, the mayor of Greenbrier, TN, was arrested after an extensive investigation, which proved he had been stealing money from the local “Toys For Tots” charity. Every year individuals flood the streets and grocery stores in the small Tennessee town asking for donations, which are supposed to be used to purchase Christmas toys for young children who cannot afford them.

Greenbrier residents say they have been suspecting Mayor Wilson of misconduct for years. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Mayor Wilson has been placing the donated money in to his personal account since 2005.

Mayor Wilson has been booked into the local county jail on $5k bond with one count of official misconduct and one count of theft over $60k.

http://benswann.com/mayor-steals-60k-in-christmas-toy-money-intended-for-children/#ixzz2jnX3ckAk

Greenbrier mayor accused of stealing Toys for Tots money he helped collect

...

Wilson also is chief of the town’s volunteer fire department and has been the public face of the city since his election as mayor in 2004. He is a regular presence on street corners during the holidays, collecting money for Toys for Tots.

Despite his arrest, Wilson continues to serve as mayor. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Monday night without Wilson, who had had a prior engagement planned before his arrest. But about 50 people attended, far more than during a typical meeting.

“They just came in and took him,” said City Superintendent Tommy Maitland, who manages the city’s day-to-day operations. “It was over in a matter of minutes.”

http://www.tennessean.com/viewart/20131105/ROBERTSON/311050066/Greenbrier-mayor-accused-stealing-Toys-Tots-money-he-helped-collect

[Galileo126]

1. Toys for Tots

is a Marine-based charity.

Well, that's one way to piss off the Marines, eh?

Whatta jerk.

[RKP5637]

2. He even looks like a stereotypical con! n/t

[el_bryanto]

3. Well i think that's because they put him up against that line up bit in the sherrifs station

That'll make anybody look like a convict.

Bryant

[RKP5637]

4. ... yep, the pics are never too flattering. n/t

[kydo]

5. You know what is missing in this story?

No mention of party affiliation. I bet if this was a dem that point would not have been left out - it would have been the first word you read.

Typical bagger behavior - stealing from poor kids.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. He looks like Phineas T. Prune.

Pictured on the right:
?w=812


(For the 99.9% of you who don't, and have no earthly reason to, get the reference: http://hardtickettohomevideo.com/2011/12/22/twelve-movies-moving-tenth-day-the-christmas-that-almost-wasnt/ )

[d_r]

7. I like his mayor uniform

its a real update-

[hfojvt]

8. ah, it is a small town

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenbrier,_Tennessee

Population 4,940.

Meaning his salary as mayor was probably $500 a month.

[FSogol]

9. Are you making excuses for his embezzlement?

[hfojvt]

13. just putting it in context

when I read "mayor" I am thinking of a "high paid official".

The mayor of Memphis makes $150,000 a year. The mayor of Nashville makes $136,000 a year.

This guy stole $60,000 from 2005. $60,000 in seven years.

In the same seven years, those other mayors made
Memphis - $1,050,000
Nashville - $952,000

Wouldn't it be even MORE outrageous if one of THOSE mayors was convicted of stealing $60,000?

[bullwinkle428]

10. Stealing from Toys for Tots? He'd be in less trouble if he got caught

"with a live boy in his bed", to paraphrase the old Huey Long quote!

He could then tell his fundie followers that he was "merely exorcising the demons out of this poor, misguided child!"

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Oh look, he's playing the God card

2nd link:

Control of GreenRidge Toys for Tots has gone from Wilson to the Greenridge Civitan Club. Greenbrier city officials had originally announced the charity’s closure early last week, but the mayor sent out a news release announcing its reopening days later.

“I regret the shadow that has been put over the GreenRidge Toys for Tots that has lead to my shutting down the program this year,” Wilson wrote in the release. “I thank God for the answer to my prayer and that is Greenridge Civitans for the willingness to carry this program on and to help those in need.”

[meow2u3]

12. It's Burgermeister Meisterburger