Sheriff’s office searching for a young Grizzly Adams on fraud charges

Published 4:03 pm Thursday, October 23, 2014

Rowan Sheriff’s detectives are looking for a Rowan County man accused of taking mail from mailboxes in eastern Rowan County and applying for credit card applications under his own name.

Authorities say Christopher Lee Grizzly Adams, 34, was developed as a suspect after the criminal investigations division received complaints earlier this month from people whose mail was stolen around Organ Church Road, near Rockwell.

Detectives believe Adams took mail from the mailboxes, used the credit card applications to apply for credit cards that he then had mailed to his address.

A search warrant was served at Adams’ home and officials recovered evidence including credit cards with the name of the victims. The cards were mailed to the suspect. He faces nine counts of felony identity theft. The United States Postal inspector also joined the investigation. Adams drives a green Chrysler Voyager minivan. He’s been added to the Sheriff’s Office most wanted list.

In May, Adams was convicted of felony uttering a forged instrument or paper that stemmed from a 2012 Rowan County incident. He was given two and a half years of probation. He was also convicted in May of felony uttering a forged instrument or paper and forgery for a 2012 incident in Wilkes County. Adams was given three years probation. He was also convicted of breaking and entering vehicles, credit card theft, possession of a firearm by a felon, larceny, worthless checks, misdemeanor assault on a female and other misdemeanor offenses related to hunting deer.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Rodney Mahaley at 704-216-8711 or Lt. Chad Moose at 704-216-8687.