Preliminary audit flags Cary spending; DA may seek SBI probe

A preliminary audit by North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek identified procurement card transactions and other spending patterns that could indicate criminal activity by former Cary town manager Sean Stegall. The development prompted Boliek to meet with Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman and leadership from the State Bureau of Investigation as officials consider next steps.

The auditor’s review, released earlier this week, singled out specific expenditures in Cary’s records, including four-star hotel expenses tied to a 2023 conference. The town has cooperated with auditors and investigators while Russ Overton serves as interim town manager as the probe proceeds. Wake County prosecutors are now reviewing the auditor’s findings and may formally request an SBI criminal investigation.

For local residents, the immediate significance is twofold: potential misuse of municipal procurement cards and a test of local accountability mechanisms. Procurement cards are intended to streamline town purchasing, but the auditor’s findings show how patterns of small and large charges can accumulate into questions about oversight and control. Cary taxpayers will want clarity on whether public dollars were diverted, how internal controls failed, and what reforms will prevent a recurrence.

City hall’s cooperative stance and the appointment of an interim manager aim to stabilize operations while investigators review records and interview staff. Financial processes such as vendor vetting, transaction reconciliation, and signatory authority are likely to come under scrutiny. Town services and budgets are not reported as interrupted at this time, but the reputational impact on Cary’s administration and the morale of municipal employees are already being felt.

Legally, the situation remains a preliminary matter. An auditor’s identification of concerning transactions does not equal criminal charges. The district attorney’s review will determine whether evidence merits an SBI criminal probe and potential prosecution. If a criminal investigation is launched, it could take months to develop a case, gather records, and reach decisions about charges.

Cary residents who follow local government decisions should watch for public updates from the auditor’s office, the district attorney, and town leadership. Town council meetings and budget sessions will be the venues where elected officials respond and propose policy or procedural changes.

The takeaway? Demand clarity and keep asking for it. Attend the next town meeting, request procurement card policies and recent reconciliation reports, and keep records of public statements so Cary’s taxpayers know how their dollars are being managed and what reforms are enacted. Our two cents? Transparency and tighter controls are the quickest way to restore trust.