Cary Town Manager's Scandal: Spending Probes Uncover Fraud

0:00It's April 22nd, from your city to your ears. This is Durham News Today, powered by AI. Kerry, North Carolina, has been rocked by a wave of spending scandals that led to the resignation of town manager Sean Stagall last December 13th, 2025. He was placed on administrative leave back in late November with no clear reason given at first. Now, multiple probes are digging into potential fraud after the state auditor flags suspicious transactions. State investigators from the SBI got involved at the request of the Wake County District Attorney and Kerry Police Chief. They are looking at Stagall's procurement card use, like an $802 sono speaker and a $450 streaming. Device ships straight to his house plus a $500 steakhouse meal called training. Taxpayers are fuming over other hits to the town budget, including a $151,000 book praising Stagall that only sold one, 143 copies.

1:01Then there is the mayor pro-tims master's degree tuition at Northwestern, which the town covered for $37,000 until she paid it. Back after questions arose. More red flags popped up with non-compliant trolley cars, bought for $540,000 that were not returned as claimed, and the mayor dropping consulting gigs with a firm doing town business after staff dinners came to light. Even a 2016 police report links the Gall's car to a drug surveillance motel, now under review. Investigations like these could drag on for months, but Kerry folks are demanding real answers and tighter controls to protect public funds moving forward.