CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An officer with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is facing multiple felony charges following a fraud investigation, the department announced Thursday.

Officer Lawrence Guiler is charged with eight counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, which is a Class H felony.

Between March and August of 2021, while working in a secondary employment capacity, detectives say Guiler submitted invoices for “payment to private businesses for dollar amounts in excess of what he was due on more than one occasion.” Additionally, Guiler is accused of being paid on multiple occasions by a business for work he did not perform.

CMPD began investigating the incidents after the businesses filed complaints alleging irregularities in invoices for payments submitted by Guiler. 

Chief Johnny Jennings said in a statement, “Officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are expected to conduct themselves to the highest professional standards and will be held accountable when they fail to do so. At no time will this department allow behavior that violates the law or community trust.”

Guiler has been with the department since July 22, 2013 and was assigned as a patrol officer in the Providence Division. He is currently on unpaid administrative leave.