Michael Elijah Leonard, Public Corruption, Virginia 2022

Lebanon Town Councilman Settles with US Attorney Over Public Corruption Charges

ABINGDON, Va. – Michael Elijah Leonard, a member of the Town Council in Lebanon, Virginia, and his sister Amber Musick have agreed to settle with the federal government over public corruption charges. The pair have interests in several automotive groups and previously made money winning bids to do work for the Town of Lebanon.

According to court documents, Michael Elijah Leonard serves on Town Council in Lebanon, Virginia and has done so since 2020. He also is a director and owner of Leonard Automotive. In or about December 2022, Leonard’s sister, Amber Musick, submitted bids for work with the Town of Lebanon under the name Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc. Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc. was solely owned by Musick and had no assets. Leonard Automotive provided all of the services for any contracts secured by Appalachian Collision.

Leonard abstained from the Town Council votes on the bids submitted by Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc. However, he knew that the work was to be done by Leonard Automotive. The Town of Lebanon paid Appalachian Collision over $10,000 for the work done by Leonard’s company.

The United States Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Virginia, Leonard Automotive, Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc., Michael Elijah Leonard, and Amber Musick agreed to a non-prosecution agreement in December of last year. As part of the agreement, Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc. will disgorge the monies it received from the Town of Lebanon for work it billed but was actually performed by Leonard Automotive. The parties also agreed that Appalachian Collision & Auto Parts, Inc. should be dissolved and that the subjects would submit all bids made to public entities only in the name of Leonard Automotive.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Macon is prosecuting the case.

Defendant: Michael Elijah Leonard

Criminal Charges: None specified

City and State: Lebanon, Virginia

Exact Date: December 2022

Sentence or Outcome: Non-prosecution agreement

Dollar Amounts: $10,000

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