KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) – A Florida man is behind bars after police say he defrauded a Kinston man out of around $2.8 million in a gold scam.
Kinston police arrested 29-year-old Michael Francois on Thursday.
Warrants say the victims were a Kinston doctor and his wife.
Officers say that since October 2025, Francois and several others posed as financial officials, convincing the victim that his accounts had been compromised.
Police say the suspects provided the man with a controlled phone and remotely accessed his computer.
The doctor was then told to wire money to purchase gold from The Carolina Coin & Gold Company, take pictures of the gold, and hand it over to couriers in Kinston.
According to police, the couple reported losing around $2.8 million.
On Thursday, Kinston officers conducted a controlled gold drop in the Walmart parking lot.
When they tried to arrest Francois, he drove off, crashing into a utility pole at the intersection of Hill Farm Road and Banks School Road.
Police say Francois suffered a head injury after hitting the windshield because he was not wearing a seatbelt. He was taken to UNC Lenoir Health Care for treatment.
Today, he was taken to the Lenoir County Jail with the following charges:
Exploitation of the elderly (2 counts)Felony flee to elude arrestFelony conspiracy (4 counts)Resisting a public officerMoney laundering (greater than $100,000)Obtain property by false pretenses (2 counts)Identity theft (2 counts)Careless and reckless drivingSpeedingStop sign violationFailure to wear seat belt
The investigation remains ongoing, and more arrests are possible.
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