MILLERS CREEK
Records seized from Welborn Auto Sales indicate that many people may be affected by financial problems at the used-car dealership, inspectors in the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles say.
Owner Judy Combs Welborn, 48, was arrested Tuesday on five counts of felony worthless check and six counts of felony conversion by a bailee, a crime that involves taking property and fraudulently converting it to cash for a person's own use.
Her husband, Randy Robert Welborn, 48, was arrested Tuesday on six counts of felony conversion by a bailee. Since then, two more people have filed complaints with the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office, and investigators expect more people to come forward, Capt. Steve Cabe said.
Cabe said that the Welborns would sell a used vehicle on consignment, and then write a bad check to the owner, who would lose the vehicle and be left with a worthless check.
Darren Betbeder of North Wilkesboro said that's what happened to him. Betbeder, 27, said he had had no reason not to trust the Welborns, whom he had known for many years.
Judy Welborn sold his truck at an auction in Statesville, he said, but asked him to hold off on cashing the check. Betbeder's wife drove by the car lot Tuesday night and saw that the vehicles were gone and black plastic was taped over the sign on Boone Trail Road. When he went to cash the check the next day, he got the bad news.
The Welborns have been released on bond. They have a Dec. 17 court date.
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