Tavares Floyd, whose 2024 campaign for Richmond City Council drew scrutiny after the accuracy of his campaign finance filings was questioned, was indicted Monday on four counts of felony election fraud.

Online court records show that a grand jury in Richmond City Circuit Court found prosecutors had enough probable cause to charge Floyd with four counts of knowingly making false statements on campaign documents. 

If convicted on the four Class 5 felony charges, Floyd could get up to 40 years in prison. 

“Each indictment charges Tavares Floyd with willfully making materially false statements on certain of his campaign finance reports,” Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Colette McEachin said Monday afternoon outside the John Marshall Courts Building. 

“These charges are the result of a diligent investigation by the Virginia State Police,” McEachin said, adding that the 10-month investigation involved dozens of interviews and forensic accounting. 

McEachin began her remarks by noting the public attention the case has received, saying the indictments followed “months of speculation by the press and by Richmond citizens.” She did not take any questions from reporters, stressing that it is an active criminal prosecution and that her office does not “try cases in the media.” 

Floyd, who was once longtime 6th District Councilor Ellen Robertson’s liaison, ran against his former boss in the 2024 election. His campaign came under scrutiny after several listed donors to Floyd’s campaign said they had not, in fact, donated. 

As previously reported, Floyd claimed to be a lawyer despite not being licensed to practice law in any U.S. state or territory or the District of Columbia. 

He also claimed in a required financial disclosure form to be an owner of a funeral home based in Charlottesville. The owner of that funeral home, Robert “R.B.” McClenny Jr., told VPM News that Floyd “has never owned any part of the business.” 

Floyd ultimately finished third, behind Robertson and local barber and community organizer Willie Hilliard, with just under 15% of the vote.