Former SEANC director accused of embezzlement turns himself in to police
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- The former Director of the State Employees Association, who is accused of embezzling money, turned himself in to authorities Tuesday.
With his wife and attorney, Dana Shane Cope walked into the Magistrate's office only to be greeted by SBI agents who formally served him with an indictment a Wake County grand jury issued Monday for two counts of "obtaining property by false pretenses (over 100,000)."
Click here to view the indictment (.pdf)
His surrender marks the next phase of a lengthy investigation.
Earlier this year, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told ABC11 that she asked the State Bureau of Investigations to conduct an "inquiry" into allegations of financial impropriety at the State Employees Association of North Carolina.
The I-Team uncovered SBI search warrants which accuse Cope of embezzling money from SEANC while he was the director.
Back in February, Cope made a soft admission when he abruptly resigned the post he held for 15 years.
RELATED: SEANC director resigns amid questions about his spending.
The warrant said SEANC credit cards assigned to Cope were used to buy jewelry and to pay for various home improvement projects at Cope's house.
His bond was set at $200,000 and he surrendered passport. He bonded out Tuesday afternoon. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 10.
