Five indicted on fraud charges

Five people have been indicted on charges of embezzlement from a South Hill company managed out of Danville.

Mecklenburg County Commonwealth’s Attorney Nora Miller said Thursday that the five are suspected of embezzling from the Lawrence Distributing Co., which is managed through a parent firm in Danville.

Miller said the owners of Lawrence Distributing Company, a beer and soda distributor, noticed in January some “irregularities in their accounts at the South Hill office.”

“They took preliminary steps to confirm their suspicions that employees were diverting money,” she said.

The commonwealth attorney’s office, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control investigated.

The employees are: William Gregory, charged with embezzlement, conspiracy to commit embezzlement and money laundering; Kellie Serls, charged with embezzlement, conspiracy to commit embezzlement and money laundering; Thomas Michael Dawson, charged with embezzlement; Anthony W. Cypress, charged with embezzlement and conspiracy to commit embezzlement; and Stephen Douglas Cannon, charged with embezzlement.

The five were indicted on April 20. Their next court appearance is scheduled for the June term of court.