One week following the federal charges of wire fraud and money laundering against Amy Elizabeth Curry, new details emerge from search warrants regarding her alleged embezzlement of approximately $1.5 million from a senior living and care facility in Haywood County.
In a press release issued by the office of Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, it was announced that Curry had been formally charged in federal court. The release explained that an FBI investigation had revealed Curry’s systematic fraudulent activities while employed at Silver Bluff, where she had exclusive control over the company’s bank accounts and accounting records, enabling her to execute her scheme successfully.
The release further disclosed that over a span of five months, Curry conducted at least 154 unauthorized bank transfers, diverting a minimum of $1.5 million from Silver Bluff’s accounts into her and her then-boyfriend J.C.’s accounts. Additionally, the indictment alleged that Curry used embezzled funds to purchase a 2020 Ford F-150 pick-up truck in March 2023.
While Curry eventually faced federal charges, she was initially indicted in state superior court a couple of months prior, following an investigation by the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. According to the associated search warrants, Detective Taylor Yates was alerted to the situation on April 6, 2023, when a Silver Bluff administrator reported a larceny by an employee, initially estimating the theft at $1.4 million.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Curry had deposited the embezzled funds into multiple accounts, including her boyfriend’s, leading to a revised total exceeding the original estimate to around $1.6 million. Notably, Curry had cunningly named one of the accounts “Silver Bluff” in an apparent attempt to mislead investigators.
Before Detective Yates was alerted to Curry’s activities, she had changed her direct deposit to an account with the State Employee’s Credit Union, making transactions just under $10,000 to avoid triggering reporting requirements.
As Yates continued his investigation, he interviewed Curry’s boyfriend, who admitted to withdrawing significant sums from Chime, subsequently handing the money to Curry for various expenses and depositing the remaining amount into her SECU account.
An affidavit was filed to request the freezing of the accounts to which Curry had been transferring funds for 90 days, simplifying the investigation process. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while the money laundering offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. Prosecutors are also seeking a money judgment for at least $1.52 million. As part of the investigation, four vehicles and a combined sum of $117,867.49 from four bank accounts were seized.
