MEDIA RELEASE

 

Contact:  Angie Grube

Public Information Director

               agrube@ncsbi.gov

 

July 2, 2020

 

 

SBI Agents Arrest Three Former Landis Town Officials on Embezzlement Charges

 

Raleigh, NC – On Thursday, July 2, 2020, special agents with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation’s Financial Crimes Unit arrested three former Landis town officials on dozens of embezzlement charges after they were indicted by a grand jury this week.  The investigation began in February of 2019 at the request of Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook. 

 

The investigation found that for a period of time ranging from six to nine years, Douglas Reed Linn, former Landis Town Manager, Ginger Cline Gibson, former Landis Director of Finance and Andrew Evans Morgan, former Landis Director of Parks and Recreation embezzled more than a million dollars from the town of Landis for unauthorized payroll increases and unauthorized personal expenses.

 

On Thursday, July 2, 2020, Douglas Reed Linn, 61, turned himself in at the Rowan County Detention Center at approximately 2 p.m.  After going before a magistrate, Linn was issued a $250,000 secured bond.  His charges include: 

• 6 counts of embezzlement by a local or charitable officer or employee greater than $100,000 (Class C)

• 4 counts of embezzlement by a local or charitable officer or employee (Class F)

• 1 count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement (Class D)

  • (Date of all offenses: 1/1/2010 – 2/7/2019)

 

On Thursday, July 2, 2020, Ginger Cline Gibson, 55, turned herself in at the Rowan County Detention Center at approximately 11 a.m.  After going before a magistrate, Gibson was issued a $250,000 secured bond.  Her charges include: 

• 5 counts of embezzlement by a local or charitable officer or employee greater than $100,000 (Class C)

• 5 counts of embezzlement by a local or charitable officer or employee (Class F)

  • (Date of offense: 1/1/2010 – 2/7/2019)

• 1 count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement (Class D)

  • (Date of offense: 1/1/2010 – 2/7/2019)

• 1 count of conspiracy to commit embezzlement (Class G)

  • (Date of offense: 1/1/2012 – 6/30/2018)

 

On Thursday, July 2, 2020, Andrew Evans Morgan, 35, turned himself in at the Rowan County Detention Center at approximately 4 p.m.  After going before a magistrate, Morgan was issued a $50,000 secured bond.  His charges include: 

 

 

• 7 counts of embezzlement by a local or charitable officer or employee (Class F)

  • (Date of offense: 1/1/2012 – 6/30/2018)

• 1 count of conspiracy to commit Embezzlement (Class G)

  • (Date of offense: 1/1/2012 – 6/30/2018)

 

The Rowan County District Attorney has referred the prosecution of this case to the Financial Crimes Unit of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys.  The investigation remains ongoing.  No additional information is available at this time.