The Fayette Observer
LAURINBURG, N.C. — A Laurinburg man is accused of embezzling more than $200,000 from the Scotland County Firefighters Association and the Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Department.
James William Rupard, 48, also bilked three clients out of a total of $45,000 through bogus investments, said hetective Brian Gibson of the Laurinburg Police Department.
Rupard is the former president of the firefighters association and assistant chief with the fire department, Gibson said.
He was charged Friday by the State Bureau of Investigation with 71 counts of embezzlement and five counts of obtaining property by false pretense, according to an SBI spokeswoman.
His arrest followed a yearlong investigation, she said.
Rupard is accused of embezzling $226,000 from the fire organizations, the spokeswoman said.
Rupard, who works at AIM Insurance, was initially charged Sept. 11 with three counts each of embezzlement and obtaining property by false pretense, Gibson said.
Rupard is accused of taking $35,000 from one client and $5,000 each from two others, and promising to invest the money in an annuity, Gibson said.
When the clients didn’t receive any paperwork, they contacted company officials, who said there was none, Gibson said.
Rupard agreed to give a refund to the client who gave him $35,000, Gibson said, and wrote a check. There was no money to cover the check, Gibson said.
After the first arrest, Rupard’s bail was set at $100,000. But Gibson said a judge reduced that to $10,000.
Rupard’s bail was set at $175,000 after his arrest on the embezzlement charges. But a judge reduced that to $75,000, Gibson said.
Copyright 2009 The Fayette Observer