A businessman accused of insurance fraud was back in court on Monday facing charges of stealing about $226,000 from county fire fighter organizations.

James William Rupard, 48, of Angus Drive, Laurinburg has been charged with 72 counts of embezzlement and six additional counts of obtaining property by false pretenses by the SBI, according to the District Attorney's Office.

The former pastor is accused of taking the money from the Scotland County Firefighters’ Association, according to Jennifer Canada of the North Carolina Department of Justice.

Rupard also had first appearances for two additional charges of embezzlement by an insurance agent and one additional count of obtaining property by false pretenses related to the continued investigation of his insurance business, according to court records.

The magistrate set his bond at $175,000 secured, which was reduced to $75,000 at his first appearance.

Rupard was still in jail at press time.

Sheriff Shep Jones asked the State Bureau of Investigation to launch a probe in August of 2008 into allegations surrounding Rupard's involvement with the Scotland County Firefighter's Association and the Stewartsville Fire Department.

Rupard denied the allegations to The Laurinburg Exchange in August 2008.

"I am not aware of any intentional wrongdoing, either by myself or anyone else. I will be glad to answer any questions asked, and will cooperate fully if contacted."

Rupard is a former vice president of the fireman's association and a former assistant fire chief at Stewartsville.

David Laviner, president of the fireman's association, said he could not comment on the allegations at this time because it could hamper Rupard's prosecution.

Insurance fraud

Rupard was arrested Sept. 11 and charged with three counts of embezzlement by an insurance agent and three counts of obtaining property by false pretense, according to investigators with the Laurinburg Police Department, Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division and the State Bureau of Investigation.

He was placed in the Scotland County jail under a $100,000 bond. A judge dropped the bond to $10,000 at his hearing Monday morning.

Rupard posted bond Wednesday afternoon. He will be represented by Russell Smith of the Scotland County Public Defender's Office.

According to the arrest warrants, Rupard, the owner of American Insurance Marketing, sold fake annuities to three victims; two at $5,000 and one for $35,000.

Authorities say Rupard did not write any of the annuity policies and believe he kept the money.

Investigators are still looking for victims. Anyone who thinks they may be a victim is asked to call the department at 919-807-6840.

Rupard had served as pastor for Sandhills Community Church, but stepped down shortly after news of the SBI probe surfaced.

He spent 16 years in prison for the murder of his grandparents, according to DOC records.

He was released from prison in 1994 and moved to Scotland County the following year.