Waynesboro mayor faces charges of theft, fraud

STATESBORO — Waynesboro Mayor Gregory Carswell was arrested Monday by the Statesboro Police Department on two counts each of “felony theft by deception” and “identity theft fraud when using/possessing identifying information concerning a person,” news outlets reported.

According to the Bulloch County Sheriff ’s Office, Carswell was freed after posting a $10,000 bond, The Augusta Chronicle reported.

Burke County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Lewis Blanchard said Carswell told him the situation was potentially a misunderstanding from when he worked at a title pawn business in Statesboro.

Carswell, in a statement, said he voluntarily turned himself in. He said he is not sure about the case’s details but he is not guilty and will fight the charges. He said the charges suggest people’s identities were compromised, including his.

“We plan to work with authorities to address these issues and make sure that the persons responsible will be arrested and convicted,” Carswell said in the statement posted on Facebook.

He said his attorney, Grady Blanchard, has told him to limit his conversation about the case, as the investigation is ongoing.

WJBF-TV reported that three years ago, the Waynesboro City Council questioned Carswell’s use of city dollars, including a trip to Philadelphia for more than $2,000, personal trips in a city car and personal use of a city credit card. Carswell apologized during a council meeting in November 2017 “for the discord my intentions caused.” He said he would repay $2,601.94 to the city.