CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — A former Caldwell County fire chief is accused of embezzling more than $155,000 from a volunteer fire department, North Carolina investigators say.
Brian Jason Edwards, 49, was charged with embezzlement, common law forgery and six counts of obtaining property by false pretense, according to North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.
Edwards is a former chief at Grace Chapel Volunteer Fire Department in Granite Falls. Investigators allege he stole the money from the fire department by falsifying time sheets for hours he worked from 2019 until 2023.
Edwards was arrested by the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office and given a $50,000 bond.
“Volunteer firefighters are dedicated public servants who sacrifice a lot to protect their community,” Causey said. "While I understand that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, these volunteers and members of the community need to know that the fir department's money is being spent wisely. I commend our special agents and the deputies working on this case for their hard work bringing these charges."
Anyone who suspects fraud or any other white-collar crime is encouraged to report it anonymously by calling the North Carolina Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Divisions at 919-807-6840.
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