Wayne Gregory, Jr., who has served as the City of Columbia’s economic development director, has been fired and arrested for embezzling money, WIS-TV reported.
Gregory was arrested before 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday and is awaiting a bond hearing. He was formerly the economic development director in Georgetown County, and authorities there say he embezzled about $100,000.
Investigators say that between January 2010 and September 2013, Gregory embezzled money from the county using a purchasing card while he served as director. Georgetown County investigators executed a search warrant at his apartment in Columbia, where was subsequently arrested and charged.
Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson said in a statement that the city will conduct an internal review of the economic development department.
Wilson also named Ryan Coleman, development and business manager, the department’s acting director. Coleman has worked for the city since 2006.