Man indicted on embezzlement from charity

ASHEVILLE - A Swannanoa man has been charged with embezzling from the charity where he served as treasurer.

Christopher James Bradford, 46, of Varden Place, has been indicted by a Buncombe County grand jury on felony embezzlement-public office/trustees and six felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense, according to warrants at the Buncombe County magistrate's office.

Bradford is accused of embezzling $7,344.46, property belonging to Terry Duckworth Ministries, while holding the position of treasurer as an officer of the charity, between Aug. 1, 2012, and April 30, warrants state.

On or about July 12, 2012, he is further accused of obtaining a credit card in the name of Terry Duckworth Ministries and making personal charges on it totaling $7,775.52 when the board did not authorize the issuance of the card and did not authorize personal charges on the card, warrants state.

On or about Oct. 21, 2013, he is accused of obtaining a credit card in the name of the ministries and making personal charges of $8,158.26 it, warrants state. On or about Oct. 22, 2013, he is accused of putting $15,000 on a credit card in the organization's name.

In July 2012, he is accused of obtaining a line of credit from Office Depot by false pretense, consisting of obtaining a credit card from the ministries and making personal charges of $1,402.75 on it.

On Dec. 4, 2013, he is also accused of obtaining a line of credit from Staples by false pretense consisting of obtaining a credit card in the name of the charity and making personal charges totaling $1,990.28 on it.

Further, between Feb. 20, 2014, and July 2, 2014, he is accused of obtaining or attempting to obtain money from Square by opening a Square account attached to his personal bank account and charging credit cards issued in the name of the ministries for a total of $5,987.20, which was depositing into his credit union account when "neither the cards or the charges made into his Square Inc. account were authorized," according to warrants.

Bradford was released on a written promise to appear in court.