Spring Lake’s former finance director allegedly stole more than $500,000 from town coffers in a scheme that started as far back as 2016.
Gay Cameron Tucker was recently arrested and charged with four counts of bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of embezzlement, WRAL reported.
“The state not only found half a million worth of missing money, but also potentially 35 vehicles that are unaccounted for,” state Treasurer Dale Folwell told WRAL.
Tucker was serving as finance director and accounting technician for the town when the misappropriation of funds occurred, Folwell said.
Tucker allegedly forged the mayor’s and town manager’s signatures on fraudulent checks and siphoned money that residents of Spring Lake had paid in property taxes, WRAL reported.
“The fact is that someone has been slighted either with having to pay higher property taxes, which is extremely horrible in this inflation environment, or they did not receive proper essential services they thought they were paying for,” Folwell said.
If found guilty, Tucker faces up to 10 years in prison for embezzlement and 30 for bank fraud, WRAL reported. The FBI and state are investigating the case.
