Developer, board member sued by US

ROANOKE (AP) — A Radford real estate developer who is also a member of a state board has been accused by the U.S. Labor Department of diverting funds from his company’s pension plan.

The lawsuit filed in Roanoke federal court claims 56-year-old Mark Kinser tapped nearly $500,000 from the fund to subsidize his business, Unlimited Construction Inc.

Kinser said in an email to The Roanoke Times he looks forward to defending himself in court.

Kinser was appointed to Virginia’s Fair Housing Board on Jan. 8 by then-Gov. Bob McDonnell. The appointment was endorsed by the General Assembly.

A spokesman for Gov. Terry McAuliffe said state officials will look into the suit against Kinser. The spokesman, Brian Coy, said the review is part of the administration’s oversight of members of regulatory boards.