Monday, Aug. 18, 2008

5 Rivers plea deadline extended

Defendants in court today

A plea agreement set to expire at noon today to the operators of the former Five Rivers Community Development Corp. was extended until 5 p.m., according to Greg Hembree, 15th Circuit solicitor. Beulah White, the agency's executive director, and her daughter Dayo White, formerly Dayo Smith - who was the chief financial officer - face 15 felony charges in connection with misuse of the nonprofit agency's funds .

Beulah White was charged with six felonies, which carry a maximum prison sentence of 35 years. She is free in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Dayo White was charged with nine felonies, which carry a maximum prison sentence of 60 years. She is free in lieu of $100,000 bail.

The plea agreement would reduce Beulah White's charges to one count of breach of trust and two counts of common law malfeasance. She could receive a maximum of five years in prison if the plea agreement is accepted.

Her daughter's charges would be reduced one count of embezzlement, several counts of breach of trust and one count of criminal conspiracy, Fox said. If an agreement is reached, Dayo White's maximum sentence would be 10 years.