Caldwell Co. Couple Accused Of Fraud, Assets Frozen

Federal agents are freezing the assets of a Caldwell County couple accused of living a lavish lifestyle at the expense of the woman’s boss.

Detectives said the pair stole $655,000 from the Woodsmith Company, a furniture business, over several years.

Federal court documents say Jimmy Hilton Jr. and Tamatha Hilton are under investigation for bank fraud, money laundering and stolen mail.

The documents state Tamatha Hilton was in charge of the books for the Woodsmith Company while the business owner was out of town for about two years. A Lenoir police detective said he found that she was taking checks written to the company and putting them into several accounts that belonged to her and family members instead of into the company account.

Detectives said when the business owner returned to town, he discovered the problem with the accounting and ended up going out of business.

The federal documents allege the Hiltons used money from the business to buy land on Lake Hickory and build a house worth about $500,000.

Neither of the Hiltons has been charged.

The same couple came under fire last year for opening a swingers club in Lenoir across the street from a church.

The city shut down the club because it violated the adult establishment ordinance and because it had about 24 fire-code violations.

The planning department released 60 photos from inside the club. They showed everything from beds to hot tubs to a dancing pole.

• PDF: Properties Frozen In Fraud Investigation

• IMAGES: Photos Taken Inside Swingers Club In Lenoir

Previous Stories: February 15, 2008: Officials Find Alleged Swingers Club In Violation Of Lenoir City Ordinance February 15, 2008: Fire Marshal Calls Alleged Lenoir Swingers Club A Death Trap February 13, 2008: Swingers Club In Lenoir Meets Resistance