A FORMER GATE CITY VIRGINIA PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM THE TOWN HAS ADMITTED TO THE CRIME IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN ABINGDON. 47 YEAR OLD RANDALL HURT PLED GUILTY YESTERDAY TO MONEY LAUNDERING. HURT PURCHASED LARGE AMOUNTS OF COPPER PIPE IN KINGSPORT WITH GATE CITY FUNDS AND THEN TOOK THE PIPE TO SEVERAL RECYCLING COMPANIES AND SOLD IT, KEEPING THE PROFITS FROM THE SCRAP FOR HIMSELF. BETWEEN JULY 2005 AND JANUARY THIS YEAR, HURT MISAPPROPRIATED NEARLY 140-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TOWN FUNDS. HURT FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON AND UP TO 500-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FINES. HE’S SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED JANUARY 7TH IN FEDERAL COURT.