By: Aaron Kim, ITMG Insider Threat Analyst
A former Spring Lake finance director was indicted on charges of embezzlement, bank fraud and identity theft. Gay Cameron Tucker embezzled more than $500,000 from the town while serving as finance director and accounting technician for the town, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina said in a news release.
“City government officials are entrusted to spend taxpayer funds on public needs – not their own,” U.S. Attorney Michael Easley said in the release. “Our prosecutors and law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously investigating all allegations of public corruption.”
According to the indictment, Tucker allegedly wrote 72 checks for her personal use stealing more than $500,000. About $177,000 of that that money went to “Heritage Place”, “Heritage House” or “Heritage”. In the state audit, it was uncovered that the money was being sent to Heritage Place Senior Living, where Tucker’s husband was being cared for. $148,000 were checked that were made out to Tucker, and $240,000 were made out to a local credit union and deposited in her personal account. An indictment also accuses her of carrying out the embezzlement through fraudulent checks containing forged signatures of the mayor and town manager, the statement said.
“It’s sad relief. Sad that this has happened to the taxpayers of Spring Lake now for the second time and relief that finally law enforcement is taking these matters seriously,” N.C. State Treasurer Dale Folwell said of the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement of the indictment. Folwell added that the misspending might have been caught sooner had Spring Lake turned in their annual audits on time as state law requires.
Minutes of the town meetings show that Tucker first appointed interim finance director in March 2020 before serving as finance director in February 2021.
Tucker is charged with one count of Embezzlement from a Local Government Receiving Federal Funds, four counts of Bank Fraud, and two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft. The maximum punishment for Embezzlement is 10 years in prison. The maximum punishment for Bank Fraud is 30 years in prison. The maximum punishment for Aggravated Identity Theft is not less than, nor more than 2 years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
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