RALEIGH, N.C. — After nearly a year of investigating, authorities made their first arrest in the Wake County Public Schools transportation scandal.

On Monday afternoon, authorities picked up Carol Finch, a former school transportation budget manager.

Carol Finch Search Warrant

In May, WRAL found Finch at a vacation home in the town of Washington, N.C., which is where Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby says the State Bureau of Investigation took her into custody.

Finch is charged with creating a false pretense and defrauding the Wake County school system.

The SBI has been investigating a fraud scheme at the transportation department since August 2004.

The school system said several former employees conspired with two former managers of a parts company to siphon off more than $2 million.