COEBURN, Va. — The former director of a group managing a trail system in southwestern Virginia has admitted to embezzling from the organization.

Melissa Slemp Rose was the executive director of Southwest Regional Recreation Authority from 2021 to 2023. The group is in charge of the Spearhead Trail System in Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell and Wise counties and the City of Norton.

Rose has been charged with bank fraud and embezzlement in federal court. She is accused of forging a board member’s name on four checks for more than 16-thousand dollars and using the money for a down payment on a house she was purchasing in Coeburn.

She has not yet entered a formal plea in the case, but she has signed a plea agreement admitting to the allegations.

When sentenced, Rose will face a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison and 1-million dollars in fines. She could also be ordered to pay restitution, but court records indicate she has already repaid the money and will get credit for doing so.

No hearings have yet been set of Rose to formally enter a guilty plea.