The Ferguson-Florissant School District Superintendent is returning to work after felony fraud charges out of North Carolina were dropped Monday.
Joseph Davis, 47, was arrested by the St. Louis County Police Department in August serving a warrant out of North Carolina for two counts of felony fraud. On Monday, NC District Attorney Seth Edwards announced in a press release that the charges were dropped.
The charging documents accused Davis of renting a car and hotel room with a Washington County, North Carolina, School District credit card without authorization. The alleged crime was reported on Jan. 15, 2017. Davis worked for the school district in North Carolina from 2012 to 2015 before resigning to take over the Ferguson-Florissant School District on July 1, 2015.
The press release sent on Monday said the charges were dropped after more information was provided. The release said the school district credit card was saved into Davis's Priceline account. The last four numbers on the district's credit card had only one numeral different from Davis's personal credit card. The district attorney also found that American Express had already credited back the school's account.
"Obviously, Dr. Davis was surprised by his arrest," said Paul D'Agrosa, Davis's St. Louis attorney said at the time of his arrest. "He had no idea. Had North Carolina contacted him, he would have gone there and turned himself in and answer the charges. I believe, and he believes, these are the same allegations that came up at least two years ago — he was cleared of all the allegations."
