Police investigate robbery at J.V. Huffman Jr.'s home

Robert C. Reed

Local law enforcement agents survey the J.V. Huffman Jr. residence after a break in Thursday night in Claremont. Huffman is accused of swindling millions from hundreds of investors. His home and assets have been seized by the state and are being processed by a receiver.Here, Chief Deputy Coy Reid discusses crime scene with other officials.

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: June 5, 2009

CLAREMONT - Law enforcement has recovered the Mercedes that was stolen Thursday night from J.V. Huffman Jr.'s home.

The vehicle, along with several TVs and other other items, were stolen from Huffman's home in Claremont.

The vehicle was recovered at a home in Conover Friday afternoon.

Huffman is accused of lying to neighbors, family and friends for 17 years, telling them he bought and sold securities, as he took millions of dollars from them to pay for his lavish lifestyle in a Ponzi scheme.

Huffman pleaded not guilty April 6 to four felony counts of securities fraud and four felony counts of obtaining property by false pretense.

Up to 500 people invested $25 million with Huffman's company, Biltmore Financial Group Inc., beginning in 1991 and ending Nov. 7 with his arrest. Huffman is being held in the Catawba County jail under a $1 million secured bond.

For more on this story, read tomorrow's Hickory Daily Record.