Charges dropped against woman accused in ad scheme

Apex, N.C. — Charges are being dropped against a woman accused in a local advertising scheme.

The Wake County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday night that it didn’t have enough evidence to prosecute the case against Kristal Hill.

Hill, 37, was accused of targeting small businesses in Apex and Fuquay-Varina. Police said she sold advertising, but never delivered.

Lois Cozart was one of five business owners in downtown Apex who bought advertising from Hill last fall. Cozart said she paid $247 to place an ad on a takeout menu for a local restaurant that was never produced.

The district attorney’s office said Tuesday that Hill finally produced the advertising, nearly a year after she was charged.

In October, investigators said Hill surrendered to authorities after seeing a story about herself on WRAL. Hill has been convicted 14 times for similar crimes across the state. Each time, she was sentenced to probation.