Case Against Former Treasurer Folwell Dropped, As He Reimburses The State

By Theresa Opeka
Carolina Journal

Former state treasurer Dale Folwell will not face any charges after Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman closed an investigation into his alleged misuse of state vehicles.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) began investigating the accusation in March after the state Department of Administration’s (NCDOA) Motor Fleet Management division conducted a compliance review of travel logs associated with state-owned vehicles from July 2022 through February 2024.

The NCDOA requested logs associated with seven vehicles leased to Folwell’s office. They reportedly submitted logs for each vehicle except the ones driven by Folwell. Data was then pulled from vehicle tracking devices that showed they were being used for trips on unrelated state business.

The investigation found that Folwell traveled throughout North Carolina to deliver funds to various agencies and people from the Department of State Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division.

It was found that even though he conducted state business, he took several detours that could be classified as personal in nature. It was determined that even though they went against the Motor Fleet Management policy, they were minor and not enough for Freeman to prosecute.

The investigation also revealed that Folwell received an email from Motor Fleet Management in October 2020 that led him to believe that he didn’t need to maintain travel logs for the period in question.

Folwell has reimbursed the state $6,233.60, which accounts for commuting costs he should have been charged over the period in question.

Folwell said in an emailed statement in June to Carolina Journal that his office was cooperating with the investigation.

“We appreciate the media getting these details out because we have been asking for information and clarity for nearly a year,” Folwell said. “We have provided pages of documentation throughout the course of this review. We look forward to continuing to cooperate with the Department of Motor Fleet Management to satisfactorily resolve this issue. I am the treasurer all the time and known for transparency.”

He concluded by saying that he was always thinking about how to do things better and more efficiently on behalf of the taxpayers, including using the state car.

In June, Folwell issued a press release expanding on his comments. He said that as the keeper of the public purse, he has done his best to safeguard taxpayer money and prudently use and not abuse state resources.

“I learned just yesterday that a state agency investigator believed it necessary to obtain search warrants to look into use of my assigned state vehicle for the many public functions I routinely perform throughout the state, all of which are purposefully planned to accomplish the maximum job duties possible during the trips,” Folwell said. “I have tried to be very careful in following published guidance — including written communications from the N.C. Department of Administration stating that mileage logs were no longer necessary — and the instructions of our internal chief financial officer regarding the use of state vehicles. I enjoy the demanding workload, which involves much coordination to save time and money, and being accessible anytime and anywhere in the state.”

Theresa Opeka is the Executive Branch reporter for the Carolina Journal.