Three arrested for theft at CPE

Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft of a large sum of money from CPE America. Two of those individuals were employees of the firm, based in Metter.

Sheriff John Miles said, “We received a report of internal theft, essentially embezzlement, at CPE America and opened a case. We identified an employee that seemed to be responsible for a lot of the theft, and during the investigation, others were identified. So far, three have been arrested, and more arrests are pending.”

Sheriff Miles said that because the theft appears to well exceed $100,000, a federal partner was called to assist in the investigation, along with the District Attorney’s Office. The thefts are believed to have occurred over the last year.

As the investigation continues and while more arrests are possible, the Sheriff stressed that future arrests would not necessarily be employees of the company. “Others are being investigated who may have benefited from the theft,” he said.

Nicole Yates Whitehead of Statesboro, a bookkeeper for the company, was arrested on Nov. 3 and charged with two counts of forgery computer theft, trespass, invasion of privacy, forgery, password disclosure; felony financial transaction card fraud and two counts of theft by conversion.

Barbara Loyd of Swainsboro, also an employee of CPE America, was arrested on Nov. 14 and charged with felony financial transaction card fraud; felony computer theft, trespass, invasion of privacy, forgery and password disclosure and theft by conversion.

Jessica Jane Mays of Folkston was arrested on Nov. 9 and charged with misdemeanor theft by receiving stolen property. She was released on her own recognizance.