GRAHAM PLEADS NOT GUILTY OVER EMBEZZLING

(02/17/2006)

Robert Graham, The executive director of the Wyoming County Council on Aging. has pled not guilty to federal embezzlement, fraud and tax charges. The fifty-nine-year-old Graham was indicted in January on 21 counts. He is accused of embezzling more than $356,000 from the agency and filing 12 false tax returns. He is also accused of engaging in illegal banking transactions. Graham was released on a $10,000 surety bond. His trial is scheduled for April 12th. The state Attorney General filed a petition to remove Graham as head of the council and place the program under a court-appointed administrator. Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey was found innocent of any ethical violations by the State Ethics Commission after he funneled about $500,000 to the agency, where he is employed. Sen. Bailey told reporters he would continue to "help" the agency, and had not found any fault with Graham. The following day Graham was arrested by federal officers.

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