Attorney General Josh Stein Announces Indictment in $1.6 Million Embezzlement Case

RALEIGH – Attorney General Josh Stein today (March 10) announced that Raed Abel Amara of Apex was indicted by a Wake County grand jury on 15 counts of aiding and abetting the embezzlement of state property in violation of NCGS §14-91. Amara is the president of two business entities that operate Tobacco Road Sports Cafes in Durham and Raleigh and was also the president of the now-closed Chapel Hill location.  

The embezzlement indictments allege that between October 2012 and December 2019, Amara aided and abetted the businesses to embezzle more than $1.6 million in sales and use tax from the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

This indictment contains allegations only and any criminal defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Attorney General Stein’s Special Prosecutions Section was referred to this criminal case for prosecution by the Department of Revenue.

About Special Prosecution/Law Enforcement Liaison

The Special Prosecution/Law Enforcement Liaison section provides legal advice and support to law enforcement across North Carolina, including direction regarding the Disposition of Property by Law Enforcement.

The Special Prosecution/Law Enforcement Liaison section also tracks North Carolina gun laws and provides information about which states have concealed carry permit regulations similar to our state’s laws. It has created a chart showing where concealed handguns cannot be carried in North Carolina.

The Special Prosecution/Law Enforcement Liaison section honors North Carolina law enforcement professionals who die in the line of duty with the Peace Officers Memorial Day each year.