The Town of Hope Mills is under an investigation by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor, according to public records obtained by CityView. 

Hope Mills Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin confirmed to CityView on Friday that an audit investigation is being carried out by the state. According to McLaughlin, the investigation is focused on the following matters: 

  • A ribbon-cutting ceremony at Heritage Park and the attendance of elected officials and staff at the National League of Cities Conference in Florida, both in November 2024
  • A budget amendment in April 2025 
  • A fishing derby at Hope Mills Lake in June 2025
  • Equipment purchases made by the town Public Works Department and budgeted by Hope Mills commissioners
  • $10 vehicle fees on property tax bills 

The state auditor’s office met with town staff on Aug. 13 “following the receipt of anonymous complaints,” McLaughlin said in an email to CityView.

Auditing officials also requested a copy of the town’s procurement and purchasing policy, McLaughlin said. 

“At this time, no findings have been issued, and no timeframe has been provided regarding the conclusion of the process,” McLaughlin said.

The Office of the State Auditor was unable to confirm that an investigative audit is being conducted or was requested, and did not provide additional comment on the investigation.

What does the state auditor’s office do?

The Office of the State Auditor oversees the financial management of public funds — like taxpayer dollars — used by local governments and other entities in order to decrease waste, fraud and abuse. The office accepts complaints and tips from North Carolina residents about any alleged financial fraud, misappropriation, mismanagement or waste of state resources, according to the tipline website, and these complaints can be made anonymously.

If financial mismanagement is found, the auditor can pursue legal action if necessary, and the N.C. Local Government Commission can assume control of a town’s finances. 

In 2021, the LGC took control of Spring Lake’s finances, following an investigative audit that uncovered major financial mismanagement and embezzlement. Spring Lake regained financial control in July 2024. 

Timeline of Hope Mills investigation

Emails obtained by CityView — which are all dated from August 2025 — provide a timeline of the process of this investigation. Here’s a list of the actions that have happened so far.

Aug. 12: 

  • Aiesha McLeod, an investigative audit manager for the Office of the State Auditor, emailed Hope Mills Town Manager Chancer McLaughlin, requesting that he contact her. 
  • Later that day, McLaughlin emailed several members of the town’s staff, as well as Mayor Jessie Bellflowers and Mayor Pro Tem Kenjuana McCray, alerting them that the auditor’s office had received complaints about Hope Mills, and that auditing officials would be conducting visits to Hope Mills the following day to review their processes. He also informed staff members that auditing officials would be conducting individual interviews with himself and several department heads, including the town clerk, and finance, stormwater and public works officials. 

Aug. 13:

  • McLaughlin sent manager reports to McLeod regarding staff attendance at the National League of Cities conferences in both Atlanta and Tampa. Those reports are dated Dec. 18, 2023 and Dec. 2, 2024, respectively. 
  • Town Clerk Ashley Wyatt sent an email to McLeod stating that she was unable to find “any public records request” pertaining to a ribbon cutting ceremony at Heritage Park after searching her email inbox.

Aug. 14: 

  • McLeod asked McLaughlin for the invoice and payment check for a rear load trash truck that Hope Mills ordered. McLaughlin referred this request to other town staff members, asking that they supply these documents “as soon as possible” in order for the auditor’s office to conclude their investigation. Bruce Clark, deputy director for public works, told McLeod that the truck had not yet been delivered, but provided a purchase order and proposal for the vehicle. 

Aug. 26:

  • McLaughlin contacted McLeod to ask if any additional documents were needed for their audit, and to ask when the town could expect the investigation to conclude. 
  • McLeod told McLaughlin that the investigation remains ongoing and she could not give a definitive timeline for its completion.

Trey Nemec is a reporter for CityView. He is a Fayetteville State University alumnus, and holds a bachelor's degree in communication and media studies.