Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor under investigation

Another suspicious campaign contribution linked to Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor

A whistleblower in the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney's office has presented more evidence of alleged bribes, amounting to $10,000, paid through campaign contributions.

In a recent complaint filed with the U.S. DOJ, the whistleblower stated that the alleged bribes, which were paid in 2015 & 2018, are linked to a drug case inherited by HCCA Shannon Taylor. The alleged bribes are connected to a international fugitive, in which Shannon Taylor intentionally avoided to extradite the fugitive despite being arrested and detained for extradition in the Philippines. 

FBI officials in the Philippines had demanded that the international fugitive be extradited to Virginia for thirteen grand jury indictments alleging the conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Despite the grand jury indictments being unsealed by court order and arrest warrants issued for the fugitive's extradition, Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney Shannon Taylor refused to file an extradition request with the U.S. DOJ to have the fugitive extradited to Virginia.

Taylor's refusal led to the fugitive's release and deportation back to his safe haven of Greece, in which he was protected by his foreign nationality status. Greek DOJ officials denied the extradition request by Henrico County which was submitted twenty-one (21) months after his initial arrest in the Philippines.

Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Michael Y. Feinmel, who the fugitives case was assigned to, and Shannon Taylor have yet to explain of their refusal to extradite the fugitive. The whistleblower stated that the fugitive had recently offered several times to be voluntarily extradited back to Virginia but Shannon Taylor has refused.

The whistleblower sent a copy of the complaint filed to VCL, stating that the alleged bribes are possibly linked to known legal associates and family members of the fugitive, it is unclear if the fugitive had knowledge of the alleged bribes.

In a phone call to VCL, the whistleblower stated that the HCCA has intentionally sabotaged their case against the fugitive and that other aspects of the case are being investigated, which is tied to a certain Henrico County Circuit court judge, who may have been involved. They added that U.S. DOJ officials are currently investigating the complaint and conducting interviews with HCCA personnel associated with the fugitive's case. 

The whistleblower added that "when these allegations of corruption towards our office are not addressed and our leader refuses to give an explanation to such a controversial issue, it affects our entire office. The moral in our office is at its lowest point ever and this affects our other cases, as we are distracted by the suspicious behaviour."

HCCA Shannon Taylor is a member of the Virginia State Bar's 2018-2019 Standing Committee on Legal Ethics. 

The controversy of this latest investigation by U.S. DOJ officials casts a dark cloud over Shannon Taylor's 3rd election bid, representing the democratic party, for the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorneys Office. This latest scandal could force the incumbent to withdraw her election bid.