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A Fayetteville woman was arrested June 10, 2022 on charges of embezzlement, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina.

The indictment alleges that Gay Cameron Tucker, 63, embezzled more than $500,000 from the Town of Spring Lake during her tenure as finance director and accounting technician for the town. The indictment further alleges that Tucker carried out the embezzlement through fraudulent checks containing forged signatures of the mayor and town manager.

United States Attorney Michael Easley stated, “City government officials are entrusted to spend taxpayer funds on public needs – not their own. Our prosecutors and law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously investigating all allegations of public corruption.”

Tucker was 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 two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Gilmore is prosecuting the case.

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