Agents with the State Bureau of Investigation charged the former president and CEO of the Anson County Chamber of Commerce with embezzlement.
Shelby Emrich, 47, faces 29 counts of embezzlement. She turned herself in at the Anson County Jail Wednesday, and a magistrate gave her a $29,000 bond.
The state investigation started in March, when Wadesboro Police Chief T. L. Spencer asked investigators to look into accusations of embezzlement at the Anson County Chamber of Commerce. Emrich is accused of using the chamber's debit card and fraudulent checks to steal from the organization.
The Anson County Chamber, like other local chambers of commerce, focuses on community and business development. The organization is funded by member dues paid by local businesses, individuals and local government agencies.
Anson County is a largely rural area with a population of about 22,000, according to the Census Bureau. It sits on the South Carolina border east of Charlotte.