‘Ringleader' in Bassett Furniture embezzling scheme released from prison

Former plant manager has congestive heart failure

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, November 19, 2009

MT. AIRY, N.C. — A former plant manager convicted of embezzling from Bassett Furniture is out of prison on medical parole after serving a year of a minimum four-year sentence, the Mount Airy News reported.

Sixty-six-year-old Ron Jarrett, who ran a plant here from 1988 to 2005, is "probably sick or dying," a prison spokesman said, and other sources told the paper he has congestive heart failure. He is under house arrest, and remains subject to other conditions imposed at his sentencing.

Jarrett is one of eight long-time former employees convicted of stealing an estimated $1.8 million in furniture from the company.

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