Volunteer fire department's treasurer charged with embezzlement

Nash County deputies charged an Elm City man Thursday for allegedly embezzling more than $100,000 from a Nash County volunteer fire department.

Authorities said David Lowell Joyner Jr., 28, of Elm City was charged with embezzlement greater than $100,000 and corporate malfeasance after he allegedly wrote several invalid checks on a banking account of the Coopers Volunteer Fire Department.

Joyner was the fire department’s treasurer. His alleged embezzling came to light after accountants conducted a yearly review of the department’s finances.

The accountants determined that several invalid checks and invoices were written from the fire department’s account, authorities said.

Fire department officials contacted the Nash County Sheriff’s Office, which launched an investigation into the incident.

Nash deputies determined that the fraudulent checks and invoices had been made by the fire department’s treasurer, Joyner.

Authorities said an investigation is continuing as authorities believe Joyner embezzled additional funds from the fire department.

Joyner was held in Nash County jail after his arrest. He was released on an unsecured bond after a first appearance in court Friday, authorities said.