CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (AP) – A former Montgomery County Social Services official has pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges. The Roanoke Times reports that 43-year-old Pamela Elaine Basham pleaded guilty Monday to using a department credit card to pay for $200,000 worth of personal purchases. County Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jessica Preston says that the former assistant director of Montgomery County Social Services spent funds intended to help families in need on items such as iPads, vacuums, video games and groceries. Social Services director Larry Lindsey said Basham was using clients’ names on purchase orders, but the families never received any of the items Basham said she purchased. Basham’s sentence hearing is scheduled for July 11. She remains out on bond until her next court appearance.
