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North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 that a Currituck County fire department employee has been charged with embezzling more than $200,000 from the department.

Amanda Christine Lamb, 46, of Shawboro, was charged with embezzlement of funds by a public officer. Lamb was employed by the fire department as an administrative assistant, not by the county government, stated a news release from the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

Special agents with the Department of Insurance’s Criminal Investigations Division accuse Lamb of embezzling approximately $205,305.85 from the Lower Currituck County Volunteer Fire Department by misappropriating fire department funds. The offense occurred from July 1, 2020, to Nov. 1, 2022, stated the release.

Lamb was indicted by a Currituck County grand jury on March 25, 2024 and arrested on March 26. Lamb was released on a $97,000 secured bond. She is due in Currituck County Superior Court on April 22.

“Volunteer firefighters dedicate so much of their time and effort to keeping their communities safe,” said Causey. “It’s disheartening to learn that money intended to protect life and property may have been siphoned off for personal use. While everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, we plan to make sure that those who donate to fire departments can be sure that their money is well spent. It is vitally important that every fire department and rescue squad have proper accounting checks and balances to ensure fire department money is spent wisely.”

Causey encourages people to report such suspected crimes by calling 919-807-6840 or toll free from anywhere in North Carolina at 888-680-7684. Reports can be made anonymously. Information is also available at ncdoi.gov.

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