RALEIGH, N.C. — The investigation into the use of state government vehicles by former State Treasurer Dale Folwell has concluded without any charges being filed. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman announced that the findings indicated any supposed infractions were not substantial enough to warrant criminal prosecution.
Folwell has agreed to reimburse the state a total of $6,234 for commuting costs that he should have incurred, as well as for miles driven that exceeded permissible limits over a 19-month timeframe ending last February. Folwell, who is a Republican and completed an eight-year term as treasurer, did not pursue reelection for 2024 and concluded his tenure at the start of the new year. He previously sought the GOP nomination for governor in March but was unsuccessful.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Folwell expressed his relief regarding Freeman’s decision to terminate the investigation into his vehicle use during his tenure as State Treasurer.
The inquiry was initiated in March, as announced by Freeman in June, and the State Bureau of Investigation was called upon to assist in examining allegations of improper use of state vehicles attributed to Folwell’s office. This scrutiny arose from a compliance audit conducted by the state Department of Administration. Investigators analyzed location data from Folwell’s designated vehicle and cross-referenced it with his daily calendar.
The investigation revealed that Folwell traveled throughout the state to distribute funds to various agencies and individuals from the unclaimed property fund while also promoting awareness of the unclaimed property program. However, it was noted that he occasionally diverted from his routes for personal reasons. Freeman’s statement indicated that while these detours deviated from motor fleet management policies, they were deemed minimal and insufficient for any viable criminal case.
Moreover, Freeman mentioned that Folwell had received an email back in 2020 from the state’s motor fleet management division, which led him to believe there was no obligation to maintain travel logs, resulting in their absence during the reviewed period.
Freeman acknowledged Folwell’s full cooperation throughout the investigation, highlighting his participation in a comprehensive and extended interview with agents from the State Bureau of Investigation.
In his statement, Folwell defended his use of government vehicles, asserting that he aimed to operate them efficiently and at minimal cost to taxpayers. He noted that he often filled up the tank of his assigned vehicle on his own and personally cleaned it as well.
Folwell added that the purpose of assigning vehicles is to ensure that members of the Council of State can effectively perform their duties and remain accessible around the clock, which he always endeavored to accomplish.
This inquiry followed the resignation earlier in 2023 of Democratic State Auditor Beth Wood, which occurred after an investigation into her use of a state vehicle that led to her plea of guilty to two misdemeanors for personal misuse of the vehicle. That investigation was prompted by an incident where she crashed a state-owned car into a parked vehicle following a holiday gathering in December 2022.
Folwell, a certified public accountant, has had a varied career in public service, having previously worked as a local school board member, a member of the state House, and as head of the unemployment benefits agency under then-Governor Pat McCrory.
