Sunflower mayor accused of stealing designer purses from Dillard's | Crime

VICKSBURG, MS (WLBT) - A Vicksburg Dillard’s department store employee and the mayor of the town of Sunflower has been charged with embezzlement after allegedly stealing two boxes of designer purses from the store where he worked.

According to the Vicksburg Police Department, around 10:30 Tuesday morning, Michael Pembleton, 25, was caught stealing two boxes of Dooney & Bourke, Brahmin and Michael Kors purses from the store and putting them in his vehicle. The purses were valued at more than $7,000.

Pembleton had been working at Dillard’s since November. He was elected mayor of Sunflower in 2009.

According to the Mayor Michael T. Pembleton Jr. Facebook page, Pembleton was the youngest mayor elected in the state of Mississippi at the age of 22.

Pembleton also ran in the August democratic primaries for the Mississippi House of Representatives but lost to District 31 incumbent Sara Thomas.

He was scheduled to appear in Vicksburg Municipal Court Wednesday.

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