Lenoir County Woman Arrested Following Fraud Investigation

In November of 2025, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a fraud complaint. During the course of the investigation, detectives determined that April Drake, 50, of Kinston, entered into a rent-to-own agreement for a property she did not own. Over a period of one year and two months, Drake collected monthly payments from the victim before filing a quitclaim deed in an attempt to transfer ownership of the property.

Following the investigation, April Drake was arrested by Kinston Police on April 16, 2026. She received a secured bond.

April Drake has been charged with:

· 1 count of Obtaining Property by False Pretenses