19-Year-Old Asheville Man Arrested on 25 Felony Charity and Rental Fraud Warrants

Officers with the Asheville Police Department located and arrested 19-year-old Masieuh Dewayne Morgan on March 2 and booked him into the Buncombe County Detention Facility on 25 newly filed felony counts tied to an ongoing fraud investigation, court paperwork and booking logs show.

Warrants filed in the case allege Morgan secured rental assistance from Eblen Charities and ABCCM Charities under false pretenses, claiming he needed help to avoid homelessness while investigators say he maintained multiple other residences in Buncombe County. Warrants claim Morgan secured funding for several apartments he fraudulently obtained, then subsequently resold or attempted to sublet, and that he provided false information to multiple Asheville-area apartments to "cheat and defraud."

The case’s public timeline shows earlier warrant activity in January. Court records indicate Morgan was arrested on 25 outstanding felony warrants on Jan. 3 tied to the same investigation, and a Jan. 16 police bulletin notes officers were attempting to locate him as he faced nine additional charges at that time. Officers said, "While in custody on the original charges, a bond hearing was held and the original bond amount of $362,500 was reduced to $72,000. Following that hearing, Morgan was able to post bond and was released on Jan. 7."

After the March 2 arrest, a magistrate issued a secured bond of $266,000 and Morgan was again booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility, according to booking information. Charging documents across the different filings list fraud-related counts, conspiracy allegations and at least one count described as assault on a female; detectives say the total number of felony counts now exceeds 30 when combining prior warrants and the new March filings.

Booking details list Morgan as 6'1", 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and tattoos reading "Devon" on his left arm and "10-18-87," "06-01-14" and "Keith" on his right arm. Investigators say the inquiry stretches beyond single incidents as they work to identify victims and quantify any financial losses to local nonprofit programs and landlords.

Detectives continue to investigate and ask anyone who believes they may be a victim or who has information to contact the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the TIP2APD smartphone application by searching "Asheville PD" in an app store, or by texting TIP2APD to 847411. Asheville detectives have not released a court date or a consolidated list of all counts; the Buncombe County District Attorney will determine formal charges to be pursued at arraignment.