Ex-Cherryville police chief accepts plea agreement

CHERRYVILLE, N.C (AP) – The former police chief of Cherryville has pleaded guilty to charges of embezzlement.

Woody Burgess entered his plea in federal court Tuesday as part of an arrangement. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Attorney Melissa Owen said that as part of her client’s plea arrangement, Burgess pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement, which accounted for five city checks written for a total of $5,173 and three firearms.

Federal prosecutors said Burgess embezzled more than $11,000 by telling the town’s finance director to issue checks to buy firearms from a sporting goods store for his personal use.

FBI agents last October began a roundup that included three Cherryville officers and a Gaston County sheriff’s deputy. They were accused of providing protection to trucks carrying stolen goods and cash.

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