Arrested: Former EDA director Jennifer McDonald in custody, held without bond

WARREN COUNTY – As of Friday evening, May 24, former Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Executive Director Jennifer Rae McDonald is in custody at the Rappahannock-Shenandoah-Warren Regional Jail (RSW Jail). McDonald was arrested on four felony counts, two of Fraud-Obtain Money by False Pretenses in excess of $200; and two of Larceny-Embezzlement in excess of $200.

She was processed into RSW Jail at 7:20 p.m. on arrest warrants issued by the Virginia State Police. An inmate information clerk at the jail verified via phone that McDonald was being held without bond pending a hearing in Warren County Circuit Court on Tuesday, after the Memorial Day weekend.

The former EDA executive director was present at the Warren County Circuit Courthouse Wednesday, along with other defendants in the EDA civil lawsuit seeking recovery of a minimum of $17.6 million in allegedly misappropriated or embezzled assets, as a Special Grand Jury empanelled to investigate potential criminality related to the EDA civil action began three days of witness testimony.

The State Police were also involved, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in an April 16 search of the EDA offices on Kendrick Lane. That search saw removal of items, including a computer and cell phone used by McDonald, from her former office which had gone unused since her December 20, 2018 resignation.

Also listed as defendants in the EDA civil litigation are former Warren County Sheriff Daniel McEathron and two real estate companies he was involved in with McDonald, DaBoyz LLC and MoveOn8 LLC; Earth Right Energy Solar Commercial LLC and its principals Donald Poe and Justin Appleton; and Truc “Curt” Tran and his company ITFederal LLC.

This is a developing story and will be updated as necessary.

May 29, July 17 set for further motions arguments in EDA civil case