
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 19, 1993                   TAG: 9311190158
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHESTERFIELD                                LENGTH: Short

CYCLING FUND EMBEZZLING TRIAL BEGINS

State Sen. Robert Russell solicited donations for a cycling team then cashed checks from a booster club account and deposited them in a personal account, a prosecutor said at the opening of Russell's embezzlement trial Thursday.

Russell, 51, has said that as founder, treasurer and chief fund-raiser for the Richmond Velo Sports booster club, he used the money to help his 19-year-old son with his professional cycling training, and that he didn't need approval from anyone to write checks.

"The defendant was placed in a position of trust by people, and he violated that trust," said James Willett, a special prosecutor from Prince William County.

Willett and Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney Paul B. Ebert were appointed to the case after the Chesterfield prosecutor excused himself because of a possible conflict of interest.

Johnathan A. Watson, a state police special agent, testified that Russell raised more than $20,000 from February 1991 to December 1992 for Richmond Velo Sports. Watson said about one-third of the money was spent on the Signet Cycling Team, while about two-thirds of the money ended up in Russell's personal checking account.

by CNB