Florida Doctor Charged with Stealing Helene Donations

Buncombe County -- November 6, 2024:  Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Press Release:  Florida Doctor Charged with Stealing Helene Donations

 

Mark Anthony Smith, a licensed doctor from Jacksonville, Florida is facing multiple charges for stealing donations and other items from victims impacted by Hurricane Helene.  On October 25th, detectives and patrol units with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office began investigating complaints of a man looting donations in the Swannanoa area. 

 

Community members knew the man by the name “Mark” who was driving a U-Haul Truck.  Patrol deputies found Mark Anthony Smith in the U-Haul.  After executing a search warrant, BCSO detectives found more than $12,000 in stolen donations from “Hearts Hurt,” and more than $2,000 in personal items belonging to the owner and operator of the nonprofit.  Detectives also found donations that Smith sold to a local pawn shop for cash.

 

Mark Anthony Smith is in the Buncombe County Detention Center charged with:

 

Breaking or Entering
Larceny after Breaking or Entering
Obtain Property by False Pretense
Trespassing During a State of Emergency
Failure to Return Hired MV > $4,000.00
Injury to Personal Property
Felony Larceny
Failure to Return Rental Property
 

Total Bond: $60,000.00

 

Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.

 

Image Credit: Buncombe County Sheriff's Office