July 24--A former Lincoln County firefighter has been accused of turning in phony invoices to get more than $21,000 from two fire departments, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Lee Thomas Keever, 36, of Denver turned himself in to deputies Wednesday morning. He had been under investigation for more than a week, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
Keever faces two felony charges of obtaining property by false pretense. One count is for $17,819.44 allegedly paid to Keever by the East Lincoln Fire Department. The other is for $3,934.98 allegedly paid the suspect by the Denver Fire Department.
Investigators say they were contacted July 15 by fire department officials, who claimed a former firefighter had turned in multiple fraudulent invoices for school tuition, classes and equipment supposedly purchased for use by the departments. Fire officials also said the suspect had presented bills for services that were not completed, according to investigators.
In addition, the allegedly phony invoices included unauthorized credit card purchases at several businesses in eastern Lincoln County, authorities said.
Keever is free on $10,000 bond, according to the Sheriff's ffice.
Copyright 2013 - The Charlotte Observer
