Man sentenced in Bassett Furniture embezzlement case

Michael Slate gets 15 to 18 months

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, July 10, 2009

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — A former Bassett Furniture supervisor was sentenced to 15 to 18 months in the county jail here for his role in an embezzling scheme that netted nearly $2 million in stolen product, the Mount Airy News reported.

Michael Slate, 34, pleaded guilty to 25 counts of felony embezzlement. He was the latest of eight employees brought to court for stealing from the nearby Dobson, N.C. plant, which has since been closed. In addition to serving time, Slate also must pay restitution and a fine.

Slate was the former supervisor of Bassett's configured tables and import line at the plant.

The plant's manager, Ron Jarrett, former shipping supervisor Lisa Martin, former assistant plant superintendent Michael Wayne Pennington and former plant controller David Ray Slate - Michael Slate's brother - were convicted earlier.

Click here to read the Mount Airy News story.