Cancer Society volunteer charged with embezzlement

Wendell, N.C. — A volunteer with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life was arrested Tuesday and charged with stealing from the charity, police said.

David Brandon Mangum, 29, of 419 Fowlkes St. in Wendell, was charged with three counts of embezzlement and one county of attempting to obtain property by false pretense.

Mangum was the co-chairman of the East Wake Relay for Life, which includes Knightdale, Wendell and Zebulon.

The Relay for Life is one of the main annual fundraisers for the Cancer Society. This year the East Wake Relay raised more than $99,000 to help fund cancer research, care and support programs.

Cancer Society officials first raised concerns about missing money in July. According to a search warrant, the organization uncovered an "elaborate embezzlement scheme" that had been operating for a "long period of time."

Chris Green, regional executive coordinator for the Cancer Society, told police that money was collected at meetings held at Wendell Baptist Church. The money was supposed to be deposited for the American Cancer Society, but police said some deposits weren't made.

20 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 20 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

Wow! I am a member of this relay event and have known mr mangum for a few years that he has been involved. What people do not know is he was not the one in charge of counting our money nor do people know our accountant quit and left without any notice and she was in charge of keeping books. Also, our supposed Relay staff member was FIRED weeks before our event bye the American Cancer Society!! But, you don't hear about that part.... mr. mangum was the chair so guess since he was in charge they go after him but this is unreal and the other people should be mentioned instead of junk like this.

marlin8077
October 16, 2009 11:14 a.m.

That's just sick.

Carolina Parrothead
October 14, 2009 7:33 p.m.

That is just as bad as stealing from a church.

exwife1956
October 14, 2009 5:47 p.m.

I am very saddened to read this. I participate in Relay for Life, and have for the past three years. My son recieved two really expensive remote control trucks as gifts, and instead of taking one back to the store, he had his aunt print off tickets and both of my children sold them at Relay. It burns me up to think that the money my children helped raise, and that others gave too, was being pocketed by David. I thought better of him. People like him make honest people think twice about giving. I agree with a comment someone else made...and I think after his prison stint, he should be made to care for cancer patients, who are the people he stole from.