The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rodrick Michael Bates of Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday after a large-scale fraud investigation that spanned multiple states and involved stolen identities, falsified driver’s licenses, and fraudulent lines of credit. Bates allegedly defrauded Smith’s Enterprises, LLC of Salemburg of approximately $100,000.
Last month, Smith’s Enterprises reported multiple incidents of fraud to the Sheriff’s Office. Investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division, working in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), identified several suspects believed to be responsible for defrauding the business of approximately $100,000.
Through a coordinated effort, investigators determined that the primary suspect, Rodrick Michael Bates, was residing in Atlanta, Georgia. A Sampson County Sheriff’s Office Federal Task Force member coordinated an operation in Anniston, Alabama, where Bates was located and arrested. At the time of his arrest, Bates was found in possession of a fraudulent driver’s license, which was used to purchase a trailer and golf cart from Smith’s Enterprises.
He is currently being held in the Calhoun County Jail in Alabama with no bond, pending extradition to North Carolina, where he faces two counts each of identity theft and obtaining property by false pretense.
Capt. Marcus Smith with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office stated that other suspects remain under investigation, and more charges are anticipated in both North Carolina and Alabama.
Suspect allegedly defrauds Salemburg business of $100,000
