COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. —

A North Carolina woman is accused of embezzling $71,000 from the volunteer fire department where she worked.

Tonya King, who served as the treasurer, secretary and an advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT) at the Cerro Gordo Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, was arrested Monday in the case that dates back to 2015.

Columbus County Sheriff's Office

Investigators with the Columbus County Sheriff's Office said they determined that King had been taking unauthorized funds from the department.

She now faces 26 felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses.

This case originally came to light when fire department officials reported suspicious financial activity.

“Cases like this remind us that justice does not have an expiration date,” Sheriff

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