North Carolina couple charged in state credit card fraud scheme

A North Carolina married couple, both employed by the state government, faces felony charges following an investigation into the alleged misuse of state-issued purchasing cards. Elizabeth Gayle Heath, 40, has been charged with felony obtaining property by false pretenses, while her husband, Brandon Lee Heath, 43, faces felony conspiracy charges.

The investigation was initiated in May 2026 by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services after irregularities were detected. Authorities allege that Elizabeth Heath obtained credit card information from at least two employees by falsely claiming the data was required for bulk purchasing or was a mandatory requirement for all staff. Investigators estimate that the fraudulent activity resulted in losses exceeding $20,000 in taxpayer funds.

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) processed both defendants following their arrest on September 18 in Wake County. Both individuals were released on a $5,000 unsecured bond and have made their initial court appearances. Further proceedings are scheduled to continue in October.