NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk’s suspended City Treasurer, Anthony L. Burfoot, 48, has been hit with a six-year prison sentence and ordered to forfeit $250,000 after being convicted of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to obtain property under color of official right, obtaining property under color of official right, and perjury.
Burfoot, who was also once a Vice Mayor and City Councilman, had been suspended in his role. His downfall stems from allegations that he solicited money and favors from individuals with business before the city council. In exchange for these things of value, Burfoot promised to perform specific official acts on their behalf.
According to court documents and evidence, Burfoot engaged in this scheme from 2005 through February 15, 2011. He had illicit relationships with several local developers, including Tivest Development company and Thomas Arney. These developers paid Burfoot hundreds of thousands of dollars, securing favorable city votes on their projects.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana J. Boente, emphasized the impact of such corruption on public confidence, stating, ‘When elected officials engage in corruption it erodes public confidence in our democratic system of government.’
Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, reinforced this sentiment, noting that public corruption remains a top priority for the FBI. ‘Citizens deserve good governance and faithful service from their public officials,’ he said.
Burfoot’s sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Henry C. Morgan, Jr., following prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa E. O’Boyle, Uzo E. Asonye, and Katherine Lee Martin.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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