Contact: Patty McQuillan
Date: January 5, 2012
Phone: (919) 733-5027

ALE CHARGES FORMER TABOR CITY ABC MANAGER WITH EMBEZZLEMENT

 

RALEIGH – N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agents have charged Brenda Hewett, the former general manager of the Tabor City Alcoholic Beverage Control store, with 11 counts of embezzlement.

Hewett, 51, of Whiteville, was arrested today and was released on a $55,000 unsecured bond.

An accounting firm hired by the Tabor City ABC Board in September 2011 found nearly $13,800 from August sales revenue had not been deposited in the bank. The accounting firm notified the N.C. ABC Commission, which asked ALE to conduct an investigation.

During their four-month investigation, ALE agents found that the July and August sales receipts were either deposited late or not deposited at all. In September, Hewett was terminated from employment at the Tabor City ABC store.

Included in Hewett's charges is one stemming from a 2008 embezzlement case where a former employee of the ABC store was charged and plead guilty. Hewett has been charged with embezzlement in connection with that case.

“ALE will continue to work with the ABC Commission and district attorneys to investigate and prosecute embezzlement cases such as this one,” said ALE Director John Ledford. “Protecting the public trust is a priority for this agency.”

ALE is a section within the N.C. Department of Public Safety. Its agents have authority to arrest and take investigatory action for any criminal offense. Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of the ABC laws and regulations and drug laws.