On July 13, 2012 at approximately 12:38 pm, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a larceny from a property on West Barr Road in Chocowinity.  Deputies responded to the scene and began an investigation. Deputies learned the suspects stole scrap metal from the victim’s property. Deputies set up surveillance at a local scrap recycling business and located the suspects attempting to sell the scrap metal. Further investigation revealed that the suspects had sold several loads of stolen metal to the business.
As a result of information and evidence gathered during the investigation, Investigator Scott Williams applied for and obtained warrants charging William Joseph White, age 22, of Tara Court Apartments in Greenville and Thomas Corey Umphlett, age 23, of Blackjack Simpson Road in Greenville with one count each of Felony Larceny, and 12 counts each of
Obtaining Property by False Pretense.  Some of the stolen property was recovered and returned to the victim. On July 24, 2012, William and Thomas were arrested by the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office. William and Thomas were held in the Pitt County Detention Center under $150,000 secure bonds.