SALISBURY — Earlier this year, Mooresville attorney George Rouco was running to represent parts of Rowan County in the 13th Congressional District. Now, Rouco is facing multiple felony drug charges.

Rouco, 41, turned himself in on Tuesday at the Iredell County Jail, where he was arrested and charged with three counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or forgery, according to a news release.

He has since been released on bond and could not be reached on Wednesday to answer questions about his arrest. Warrants were filed on Monday and an attorney representing Rouco was notified, according to Mooresville Police.

Rouco is also an attorney. He has also previously worked for his family’s food distribution business.

This year, he ran as a Republican for the 13th Congressional District seat. During the race, he touted experience in the CIA as a positive factor about his candidacy. Rouco said his job was to recruit spies from 2008 to 2013

In the Republican Party primary for the 13th District, Rouco finished 12th out of 17 candidates. Gun store owner Ted Budd won the 13th District GOP race with 20 percent of the vote.

Rouco also briefly ran in the 2016 9th Congressional District race. However, he changed to the 13th District after federal judges ruled that North Carolina’s congressional map was unconstitutional. When maps were redrawn, Rouco’s residence was in the 13th District instead of the 9th District.

Maj. Gerald Childress of the Mooresville Police Department said the three felony drug charges came after Rouco allegedly received the same prescription for an opioid from multiple doctors. Rouco allegedly didn’t disclose to doctors that he was receiving an opioid prescription from others.

The investigation leading to Rouco’s arrest was conducted by the Mooresville Police Department with assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation.

Childress said he doesn’t expect any additional charges to be filed in connection with the case.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246