Payday Advance Culprit Sentenced to Jail Time
By Paul RizzoPayday Loan Writer
A Lynchburg woman who embezzled $8,000 from a payday loan company will serve 10 days in the Amherst County Jail.
Lashaun Patrice Smith, 33, pleaded guilty in Amherst Circuit Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. All but 10 days were suspended.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Anthony Martin said Smith began taking out false no fax payday loans in late 2005, using the names and information of people who received legitimate loans from Cash Advance in Madison Heights.
Smith will be put on two years probation after her release and was ordered to pay back the money she stole from the cash advance payday loan lender.
A grand jury indicted Smith in October on 13 counts of embezzlement. She originally faced two dozen other related charges, including forgery, but those were dropped, Martin said.
Smith could end up serving the suspended portion of her sentence if she violates the conditions of her probation after her release from jail.
