Financial irregularities for Durham Democrat? | State Auditor excoriates Cary finances | Immigrant status of alleged fraudsters, rapists escapes media's attention
No. 185 — Jul. 12-Jul. 18, 2026
A State Senator representing Durham says she and her husband were separated when she lobbied Congressional staff on behalf of his energy company, which has since accrued a massive fine for “brazen” fraud (yet he uses the spousal exemption to exceed the individual contribution limit for political contributions to her).
A pair of Chinese are accused of defrauding over $12k from a local collectible card shop in Cary as part of a “organized crime unit.”
An alleged child sex predator described by the News & Observer as a “Burlington man” is in fact a Spanish-speaking immigrant for whom legal status cannot be determined, and faces charges for molesting a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old in Durham and Chapel Hill.
Selma Police have made an arrest in a 25-year-old rape case after a DNA sample from “America’s Jihad Capital” of Dearborn, MI matched a sexual assault kit from the cold case rape; is there a “Mohamed” connection?
The state auditor has released his report on the Town of Cary under its now-former town manager, revealing extensive patterns of waste and lack of accountability.
Durham senator lobbied w/ separated husband ahead of $1.1 billion fine
As candidate, NC senator lobbied for husband’s energy company amid federal probe - N&O
State Sen. Sophia Chitlik (D-Durham) joined her husband Ben Abram in lobbying Congressional staff on behalf of American Efficient, an energy company he co-founded which was already under an investigation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission which has resulted in a $1.1 billion fine for what FERC described as “one of the largest and most brazen frauds” in its history.
The meetings occurred in March and April of 2024, around the time Chitlik defeated incumbent Mike Woodard in the Democratic primary for Senate District 22.
Chitlik, who was not registered as a lobbyist, explained to the News & Observer that the lobbying was unpaid work “to be a supportive friend to the father of my child,” also revealing that she and Abram had separated the year prior.
This separation is also Chitlik’s explanation for not reporting her husband’s financial interests in required disclosures as a legislature, despite still being legally married. (This is in line with guidance by the NC State Ethics Commission.)
However, the separation hasn’t prevented Abram from using spousal exemptions to exceed the ordinary limits of individual support for Chitlik’s political ambitions, with a loan of $18,000 in 2024 and a donation of $7,560 earlier this year.
Records analyzed by the N&O also show that Chitlik’s $1.2 million Durham residence is owned by a corporation managed by Abram, and that her financial disclosures did not list any sources of income above $5,000.
“Organized crime:” Chinese pair accused with defrauding $12.5k at Cary shop
2 charged with using stolen card to buy $12K worth of Pokémon cards at Cary collectibles store: Warrants - CBS17
Pair bought Pokémon cards with stolen ID, tried to resell them, warrant says - WRAL
Dongwei Lin, 30, and Xinyi Lin, 27, each face charges of felony conspiracy, identity theft, obtaining property by false pretenses, and financial card fraud for allegedly posing as a “Mike Smith” to use a stolen credit card to purchase Pokémon cards.
In a video shared to Instagram, Triangle Area Trading Cards co-owner Adam Reynolds attributed the crime to a “organized crime unit operating up and down the East coast,” with the pair making off with over $12,500.
Court documents indicate that a magistrate was “unable to determine” citizenship or legal status after each defendant admitted to being born in China; while Xinyi Lin claimed to be a US citizen (but could not provide proof), Dongwei Lin admitted to not being a US citizen and is now subject to an ICE detainer.
Both of the Lins were in need of a Mandarin interpreter, according to their arrest warrants, and both are listed as “white” inmates of the Wake County jail where each is being held on a $75,000 bond.
Not a “Burlington man:” (illegal?) immigrant charged with molesting children
Burlington man arrested for alleged child sex crimes in two Triangle counties - N&O
A “Burlington man” charged with abusing children in Chapel Hill and Durham is in fact an immigrant for whom legal status cannot be determined, according to court documents¹ ² ³.
Saul Antonio Sosa, 64, is facing three counts of statutory sex offense with a child by an adult and six counts of indecent liberty with a child for crimes committed in 2018/2019 against at least two victims, aged six and nine at the date of the alleged offenses.
Sosa required a Spanish interpreter, according to arrest warrants; Sosa’s previous criminal record consists only of traffic charges, which appear to indicate he has been in North Carolina since at least 1998.
71-year-old immigrant extradited from Michigan for 25-year-old cold case rape
DNA Match Solves 25-Year-Old Selma Rape, Kidnapping Cold Case - JoCo Report
Arrest made in 25-year-old Selma rape and kidnapping cold case, police say - CBS17
Press Release - Selma Police
Jaman Mohamed Al-Jasi, 71, a resident of Detroit, MI, has been charged with first-degree rape, first-degree kidnapping, and first-degree sexual offense involving a 24-year-old female victim in Selma in 2001.
Selma Police say that Al-Jasi was identified after DNA collected in an unrelated criminal investigation in Michigan matched to the sexual assault kit which had been taken in the original investigation.
Perhaps coincidentally, the “Brotherhood Market” on Pollock St. in Selma where the crime occurred is registered (as of 2026) to a “Mohamad Alwahishi,” and Al-Jasi’s DNA was matched from a hit in Dearborn, MI, which has been described as “America’s Jihad Capital” due to the massive influx of often-radical Muslim immigrants.
Voting records appear to show that Al-Jasi is a naturalized citizen who registered in vote in Sanford as of 2020.
Al-Jasi has been extradited from Michigan, and is being held in Johnston County jail without bond.
Follow-up
State Auditor releases report on Cary financial practices
Investigative Report (Town of Cary) - State Auditor Dave Boleik
State Auditor’s Investigation: Cary Staff Spent $24 Million in Two Years Under Former Town Manager - INDY
‘Extravagant spending’: State audit questions expenses and alleges lax financial oversight in Cary - WRAL
Former Cary town manager’s use of public funds called ‘questionable’ in state’s 2,600+ page audit - ABC11
Cary’s former Town Manager Sean Stegall oversaw a “culture of extravagant spending,” according to a newly released 2,600-page report by State Auditor Dave Boliek.
In addition to previously reported-on financial irregularities such as funding a town councilmember’s graduate school tuition, a ghostwriter for Stegall’s book, and unapproved property purchases, the report’s highlighted findings include:
overissuance and “questionable” use of procurement cards
$121,314 on video production for a retreat for council and staff in Wilmington
$802 “car allowance” per councilmember per month
“erratic behavior and bullying” by Stegall
violation of the town’s Fund Balance Policy by overspending
The report reveals that 62% of town employees were issued procurement cards which were used to spend $24.2 million in taxpayer dollars across 60,591 transactions in a two year period, a significantly higher percentage of card-equipped employees than neighboring Raleigh (16%) or Durham (15%), which are each close to the average of 16% for the top 10 largest municipalities in the state.
In addition to numerous violation of policy regarding their use, the analysis for procurement card spending revealed “food, travel, & other questionable expenses” such as:
$490.06 by Stegall on a steak dinner for two in Atlanta (Stegall claimed the dinner included Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, though documentation proved he was on a flight at the time of the meal)
$2,205.92 for an election night “bond watch party”
$4,164 for a 41-person retreat dinner at a “French Quarter-Inspired” restaurant in Raleigh
$3,419 for a 4-night penthouse stay in Austin, which Stegall claimed was “for multiple staff” despite hotel records showing only one guest
$5,843 for cancellation fees for a Quarterly Council Meeting after staff forgot to cancel a secondary date
$1,600 for 10 pairs of Cary-branded sunglasses for the council
$733 for a van transport from the Cary Town Hall to a not-so-distant golf course for a Wake County Mayors Association Holiday Dinner
The town’s council and staff retreat in Wilmington in 2024 included a “choreographed dance routine” by town staff as a “surprise gift for Mr. Stegall and the Council.” Although the staff used personal time and funds to arrange and prepare for the performance, Stegall hired a video production company (which had already been paid over $80,000 to make two videos for the retreat) to make a documentary on the preparation of the performance for an additional $34,975:
Previous Coverage:
State Auditor probing Cary after dubious financial transactions come to light amid town manager’s suspension (No. 154 — Dec. 13, 2025)
Cary Manager resigns w/ nearly $200k severance amid expanding financial scandals (No. 155 — Dec. 20, 2025)
Town of Cary revealed to have footed the bill for ex-manager’s self-promotional book (No. 158 — Jan. 10, 2026)
Investigation into Cary town manager heats up w/ potential criminal charges (No. 159— Jan. 17, 2026)