GREENBRIER, Tenn. — A small-town mayor charged with stealing from the Toys for Tots charity he founded has not been drummed out of town, or even out of office.
Many people in Greenbrier say they cannot believe that Mayor Billy Wilson would steal from charity. Many others say they are withholding judgment and waiting to see whether he is found guilty.
It was clear that Wilson has built up a lot of good will in the community of about 6,500 people where he has been mayor since 2004. Wilson also is chief of the Volunteer Fire Department and until earlier this month ran a charity called GreenRidge Toys for Tots, which supporters say did much more than helping children at Christmas.
Wilson was arrested Nov. 4 and charged with stealing $60,000 from the Toys for Tots program, which is not affiliated with the national program run by the US Marine Corps. He is accused of taking money for his personal benefit.