ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A Florida doctor faces charges after being accused of stealing donations and other items from victims impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office began investigating complaints of a man looting donations in the Swannanoa area on Oct. 25, a news release from the sheriff’s office said.
Community members knew the man as “Mark” and said he was driving a U-Haul truck.
Deputies found Mark Anthony Smith, 56, of Jacksonville, Florida, in a U-Haul. After executing a search warrant, detectives found more than $12,000 in stolen donations from Hearts Hurt and more than $2,000 in personal items belonging to the owner and operator of the nonprofit. Detectives also found donations that had been sold to a local pawn shop for cash.
Smith was arrested on Oct. 31 and charged with:
- Breaking or entering
- Larceny after breaking or entering
- Obtain property by false pretense
- Trespassing during a state of emergency
- Failure to return hired motor vehicle greater than $4,000
- Injury to personal property
- Felony larceny
- Failure to return rental property
Smith is being held in the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $60,000 bond.