Wilkesboro Police are investigating a possible embezzlement case at a local business. Wilkes Telecommunications internal auditors found a pattern in company records dating back to last summer, that involved an employee who has since been fired.



According to Wilkes Telecom's Claude Ritenhour, 38-year old Julie Dula was implicated by the auditors. An internal investigation started in January found a pattern where she would receive cash payments from customers, post the payment to heir account, then reverse the transaction later in the day. The following day, the transaction would be posted again, but the cash would never make it to the daily bank deposit. A crime report lists almost 15-thousand dollars in similar transactions. Dula was not an employee who would take cash payments as a part of her regular duties.



Investigators for Wilkes Telecom spoke with her near the end of last month and she denied any wrongdoing. based on their strong suspicions, the company fired Dula January 31st, and filed charges through Wilkesboro Police Wednesday afternoon. Police say the case remains under investigation.

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