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. <\/p>\n
Kinston police arrested 29-year-old Michael Francois on Thursday. <\/p>\n
Warrants say the victims were a Kinston doctor and his wife. <\/p>\n
Officers say that since October 2025, Francois and several others posed as financial officials, convincing the victim that his accounts had been compromised.<\/p>\n
Police say the suspects provided the man with a controlled phone and remotely accessed his computer.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
According to police, the couple reported losing around $2.8 million.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Kinston officers conducted a controlled gold drop in the Walmart parking lot. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Today, he was taken to the Lenoir County Jail with the following charges:<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The investigation remains ongoing, and more arrests are possible.<\/p>\n
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