Joel Blake Lee, 55, was arrested by the N.C. Forest Service in July. He faces charges of timber theft, exploitation of the elderly, forgery of deeds or wills, and obtaining property by false pretenses, according to the Columbus County News. The Clayton man walked free on a secured bond.
Lee worked for Frontier Timber, per the publication’s report. He tricked landowners across Columbus, Pender, Chatham, Wayne, and Onslow counties into selling timber at prices well below market value. In other instances, he forged paperwork to harvest their land without permission. Five counties saw victims fall prey to this alleged operation.
The suspect mailed letters to property owners. He asked for the right to harvest their land. He promised to reseed and help maintain woodlands. Once he gained trust, the land would be clearcut. Then it sat there—no clearing, no cleaning, no reseeding…