14 Indicted In Front Royal-Warren County EDA Embezzlement Case

CULPEPER, VA — A Warren County special grand jury last week handed up 42 misdemeanor counts against 14 people in connection to an ongoing case involving the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority. The charges stem from an investigation the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Culpeper Field Office initiated in August 2018 related to the business practices of organization.

The grand jury charged the following people with two counts of misfeasance and one count of nonfeasance each based on their knowledge of and inaction relating to the EDA's mismanagement of funds.

• Mark A. Baker, 53, of Front Royal
• William M. Biggs, 77, of Front Royal
• Alexander G. Blanton, 72, of Front Royal
• Tony F. Carter, 59, of Linden
• Luke G. Drescher, 59, of Middletown
• Bruce N. Drummond, 68, of Linden
• Archie A. Fox, 78, of Strasburg
• Linda P. Glavis, 75, of Front Royal
• Ronald L. Llewellyn, 66, of Front Royal
• Daniel J. Murray Jr., 72, of Middletown
• Thomas E. Patteson III, 73, of Front Royal
• Thomas H. Sayre, 54, of Front Royal
• Douglas P. Stanley, 50, of Front Royal
• Daniel N. Whitten, 36, of Front Royal

Thirteen of the individuals indicted turned themselves in to state police today and went before the magistrate, who released each one on a personal recognizance bond. Whitten will meet with the magistrate and state police Wednesday.

Since May 2019, multi-jurisdictional grand juries handed up a total of 28 felony indictments against Jennifer R. McDonald, 42, of Front Royal. McDonald is a former EDA employee who was charged with six felony counts of embezzlement of more than/equal to $500, six felony counts of embezzlement of more than/equal to $200, eight felony counts of obtaining money by false pretense of more than/equal to $200, two felony counts of obtaining money by false pretense of more than/equal to $500, and five felony counts of conducting an unlawful financial transaction.

McDonald was released on bond in July. The investigation into the case continues.