Bond denied, restitution requested for former Roanoke councilman Robert Jeffery, Jr.
Former Roanoke City Councilman Robert Jeffery, Jr. could spend several years in jail for money crimes when sentenced later this summer.
Roanoke City seeking applicants to replace Robert Jeffrey Jr.โs seat on council
After former Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr. was found guilty of embezzlement and money crimes, officials are now on the search for someone to take on his role.
Roanoke City Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr. found guilty of embezzlement, forfeits his seat on City Council
A judge convicted a Roanoke City Councilman of embezzlement on Thursday afternoon.
Deadly shooting hits home for Roanoke City Councilman who lost brother-in-law to gun violence
A deadly weekend of gun violence in Roanoke struck home deeper than usual for a member of city council.
![Robert Jeffrey Jr. to stay on Roanoke City Council despite calls to step down](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/9NfimqnIpSqItkabyaA8Oy_Emt0=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/10-19-2021/t_3d89e513fb23497684f074de2ddf929e_name_Robert_Jeffrey_Jr_to_stay_on_Roanoke_City_Council_despite_calls_to_step_down.jpg)
Robert Jeffrey Jr. to stay on Roanoke City Council despite calls to step down
Roanoke City Council members are speaking out after Robert Jeffrey Jr. was asked to step down from his seat on council but refused.
![Roanoke Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr. asked to take leave of absence following felony charges](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/DjIAAYFI7XvSbBl49B2_HFV-0mY=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/5RR53HWDK5AVTLQVV3H4EYIXYU.jpg)
Roanoke Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr. asked to take leave of absence following felony charges
Roanoke City Council voted to ask fellow Councilmember Robert Jeffrey Jr. to take a leave of absence following multiple felony charges.
![Roanoke City Councilman indicted on charges of taking money from a City Council-appointed body](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6rvwPCDDXrB1AvCtjJDE7jlb5nk=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZGXS5TGNSJCF7NZAGYWFFK42SU.jpg)
Roanoke City Councilman indicted on charges of taking money from a City Council-appointed body
A Roanoke City councilman previously indicted in July has been indicted on two new charges, according to the Commonwealthโs Attorney for the city.
![Search warrants show Roanoke city councilman may have used embezzled money to pay gas, power bills](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6rvwPCDDXrB1AvCtjJDE7jlb5nk=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZGXS5TGNSJCF7NZAGYWFFK42SU.jpg)
Search warrants show Roanoke city councilman may have used embezzled money to pay gas, power bills
Multiple search warrants are painting the picture of how police are investigating the embezzlement charges brought against a Roanoke city councilman.
![Police believe Roanoke city councilman wiped data from city-issued iPad after it was confiscated](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/6jv8rf4dvob9FP6dT2sl10VM-EQ=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-05-2021/t_21cc1f78097349fc86b56b640dc09575_name_RobertJ.jpg)
Police believe Roanoke city councilman wiped data from city-issued iPad after it was confiscated
A Roanoke City councilman indicted on two counts of felony embezzlement is now accused of wiping evidence from his city-issued iPad.
![Roanoke city councilman turns himself in, released on bond following embezzlement charges](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/V1qrZoNj7dsrzvU8EpdqFk0z2vs=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZGXS5TGNSJCF7NZAGYWFFK42SU.jpg)
Roanoke city councilman turns himself in, released on bond following embezzlement charges
Roanoke City Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr., who is facing two felony charges has been released on bond.
![What does Martin Luther King Jr. Day mean to you?](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/4A4SOR7pZ_-9t5kljYLfDCxCmb4=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-19-2021/t_7e79601ac3544d2abe9879d19ca291d8_name_image.jpg)
What does Martin Luther King Jr. Day mean to you?
ROANOKE, Va. โ Martin Luther King Jr. Day holds different meaning for different people. โItโs just a celebration of who we all are as humans,โ said Kiera Toney, who just moved to Roanoke from Martinsville. His daughter, Sarah, said that everyone should treat each other โnicely and the same.โAfter the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 reignited the Black Lives Matter movement, Toney says she feels the weight of this day even more. โItโs 2021 at this point and Iโd really hate to think that Dr. Kingโs legacy from the 60s and earlier havenโt changed anything,โ said Toney. Newly-elected Roanoke City Council Member Robert Jeffrey Jr. said that itโs OK to pause and learn from Kingโs teachings.
![Directory created to help Roanoke minority- and women-owned businesses](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/XEVXk1niJtSCfzwR3brInllcXxc=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/01-16-2021/t_fe1a6f1ffb7f42f5a7d0854727c69294_name_image.jpg)
Directory created to help Roanoke minority- and women-owned businesses
ROANOKE, Va. โ As more people look for ways to support local businesses, thereโs a new initiative that aims to make that easier. Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is launching a new directory to highlight minority and women-owned businesses. โIf someone is looking for like a contractor, or a cake maker or whatever, they will have an easier time locating those folks,โ Roanoke Regional Chamber President and CEO Joyce Waugh said. โMy hope is that the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce will find grass root organizations and lead this to be a bigger and better operation,โ she added. The online directory will be available on the chamberโs website by March.
![Whatโs News Today: Holiday happenings, find your money](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/GTXv3MzkLYRkN0g66GEpSGQVx48=/828x464/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UJJG4U4ZR5BALEAEZPT356FZNE.png)
Whatโs News Today: Holiday happenings, find your money
The town also holds a reverse Holiday Parade. Patrick Henry Drive will be closed from Progress Street to North Main Street beginning at 5:30 for setup. Thatโs followed by the winter WonderLot Christmas Parade from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The reverse Christmas Parade will take place in the Salem Civic Center Parking lot. The Town of Amherst holds its reverse Christmas Parade tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Meet the newest members of a historic Roanoke City Council
ROANOKE, Va. โ For the first time in the Star City, minorities will hold the majority on Roanoke City Council with four African Americans, one Latina and two white members. Democrat Robert Jeffrey Jr. and independent Stephanie Moon Reynolds will join incumbent democrats Mayor Sherman Lea and Councilwoman Trish White-Boyd. โIt speaks well to the equity and empowerment that weโre trying to project in our city," said Lea. Council members Michelle Davis and Anita Price did not run for re-election in 2020. Lea said council is going to hold a public hearing on the bus station and council members are going in with open minds.
![Roanoke voters elect cityโs first majority Black city council](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Zjq4V-g9PKGywmO5ud2Uy7_hoyE=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/COUFXZA22NC7VP2PETBXESDKMY.png)
Roanoke voters elect cityโs first majority Black city council
ROANOKE, Va. โ The results are in, and voters in Roanoke have selected three new city council members. Trish White-Boyd (D) has been elected as Vice Mayor, along with Robert Jeffrey Jr. (D) and Stephanie Moon Reynolds (I), who were elected to city council. The three beat out five other candidates, and the only incumbent among the group was White-Boyd. This is the cityโs first majority Black city council. To see the results from the race, click here.
![Virginia General Election Results for Roanoke City Council race on Nov. 3, 2020](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/LfYxh3FMatdXFhDhv15qxHJau7U=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/11-04-2020/t_cf2bbf7f77d8420ba8c1653e0a0ba5d9_name_image.jpg)
Virginia General Election Results for Roanoke City Council race on Nov. 3, 2020
On Nov. 3, Roanoke will elect three new city councilmembers. The eight candidates are Robert Jeffrey Jr. (D), Peter Volosin (D), Trish White-Boyd (D), Maynard Keller (R), Peg McGuire (R), Cesar Alberto (L), Kiesha Preston (I) and Stephanie Moon (I). The only incumbent among the group is White-Boyd. Use the picker below:Find Race ResultsOnly care how other counties and cities in the area voted? Youโll find all those options in this picker:How cities, counties in our region votedGet the latest Virginia election news here
![Roanoke City Council candidate tests positive for COVID-19](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Oyt0CloyF-UpUNM_LDTAUg5IpWY=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/K6XQ6R3WUFAGDG3PN24PFM3SA4.png)
Roanoke City Council candidate tests positive for COVID-19
ROANOKE, Va. โ A Roanoke City Council candidate tested positive for coronavirus a few weeks prior to the election. Robert Jeffrey Jr. announced his diagnosis Thursday and said he has been quarantining and resting at home with his wife who also tested positive for COVID-19. โOur campaign took the matter seriously by putting the safety, health and wellness of the community and our team at the forefront of our plan,โ said Jefferey in his statement. โDespite being overly precautious, we were still impacted.โHe said that contracting the virus gives him firsthand knowledge of what Roanoke citizens are going through, making him more committed to creating awareness around the pandemic in the Star City. โWith over 20 days left in this campaign, Iโm committed to finish this historic election with enthusiasm and fervor,โ said Jeffrey.