Washington City Manager Jonathan Russell confirmed Wednesday that former Washington Network Administrator David Carraway has been charged with four felony counts of embezzlement that allegedly date back to 2016.

“Once we were made aware, we began our investigation, but we turned that information over to the District Attorney’s office, and they made the determination to move forward with charges,” Russell said.

Warrants for Carraway’s arrest, issued Monday, lay out four counts of embezzlement dating from 2016 to 2019. The warrants allege that Carraway used a City of Washington credit card to purchase a total of $8,723.16 in unauthorized items during the past four years. In addition to misappropriated funds, Russell said some electronic equipment may have also been taken from the city.

Washington Finance Director Matt Rauschenbach is listed as a witness on all four warrants.

“I commend the finance department with the oversight that they provide,” Russell said. “Our processes that were in place raised some red flags, our staff followed up on them and the issue came to light.”

Carraway, a 30-year state employee, had worked for the City of Washington for 20 years before abruptly retiring on March 13. Russell said Carraway’s retirement was voluntary and that he was not fired or forced into retirement.

“It was something we took seriously ,” Russell said of the allegations. “We’re continuing to look though some additional items, but it was substantiated on our end.”

Russell said Carraway went voluntarily before the Magistrate’s office and was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Russell said the investigation is ongoing.

Carraway declined to comment on the charges.