Rand said that a friend called him Thursday night and told him about it.

"I knew nothing about it," Rand said. "You can examine all my phone records." Webster's version of events is that in April 2007 his aunt wrote a check to him in the amount of $12,115 from her IRA account and insisted he take it. Webster said Nance, who is his mother's sister, wanted him to have it because of the things he had done for her and also because she wanted to be eligible for Medicaid.

Soon after, his aunt went back to him and asked for $5,000, and Webster used his own money to pay her because he had purchased a CD with money she had given him and put it in his and his sister's name. After the CD matured, Webster wrote a check for $5,000 to replenish his account.

The SBI had a different version of the story. According to search warrants, SBI Agent Andrew Pappas interviewed Nance on Aug. 26. At that time, she told authorities that she gave Webster power of attorney in 1996. Since that time, she provided him with four CDs that belonged to her. She said Webster was supposed to give her the interest from the CDs "but became concerned when she received interest checks from only three of the four CDs." Nance said she gave the $12,115 check to Webster with the understanding that he was going to invest the check for her at the State Employees Credit Union where the money would earn more interest, but she never received any interest checks.

"Doris Nance denied that any of the money she gave Hugh Webster was in any way a gift to him," search warrants state.

Nance continued to question Webster about the money that was supposed to be invested in a CD.

"Hugh Webster told Doris Nance he had a stroke and did not know what happened to the CD," the warrant states. "Doris Nance subsequently requested $5,000 of the IRA money she had given him be returned to her." Webster insists he didn't do anything wrong.

"I want to declare to you that I am 100 percent innocent of these crimes," Webster said. "They are baseless and without merit and I promise you the facts will prove that in short order. I am saddened that certain people have taken advantage of an elderly relative in an effort to discredit me and enrich themselves." Webster tried to contact Brewer on Friday to find out what evidence was presented to the grand jury but was unable to reach him. Brewer did not return calls to the Times-News on Monday.

During the news conference, Webster called Brewer a "yellow dog Democrat with some integrity," accused the SBI of "political patronage" and said that Cooper, whom he served in the state Senate with, was always running for the next election and he and other politicians in Raleigh didn't like his governing style.

"I was the only one who always had the fortitude to stand up and the integrity to always tell the truth and especially when a misdeed was being foisted upon the poorest of the taxpayers of this state," Webster said.

The Associated Press reported last week that Talley, speaking on behalf of Cooper, confirmed that Webster was indicted. In an email to the Times-News on Monday, Talley said she is spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Justice, which includes both the attorney general and the SBI.

"The attorney general heads the department, which includes the SBI, although he is not directly involved in SBI investigations," Talley wrote. "The SBI conducts thorough, impartial investigations at the request of local law enforcement and district attorneys." Caswell County Sheriff Michael Welch said his agency was not involved in the investigation and didn't request the SBI's assistance. He deferred all questions to Brewer.

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