(The Center Square) – From $1,500 of DoorDash purchases to a stay at The Westin in Seattle on the way to an Alaskan cruise family vacation, the purchase card totals added up on the former manager of a North Carolina town.
Michael Boaz is facing a felony indictment after the state auditor’s office reviewed 793 credit card transactions totaling $317,604 between January 2022 and November 2024.
“The spending that happened under the guise of leadership in Pilot Mountain is an insult to that entire community,” first-term Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek said. “The indictment handed down today in Surry County, North Carolina, should serve as a warning to all who would steal taxpayer money that we will hold you accountable.”
Pilot Mountain is a community of about 1,500 along U.S. 52 between Winston-Salem and Mt. Airy.
In October 2024, Boaz was put on administrative leave. Holly Utt, the assistant town manager, has served in an interim capacity since. In published reports, Pilot Mountain Mayor Donna Kiger said news of the indictment didn’t arrive until Monday.
Brent Culberson, chief of staff for the State Bureau of Investigation, said his agency’s probe “may or may not be complete.”
The $419 charge in Seattle in June 2024 was not work-related, Boliek’s office said. Other fraudulent purchases found in the audit included $10,758 across 189 food purchase transactions; $2,300 for Visa gift cards; $2,139 over 28 food purchase transactions in Boaz’s hometown of King; $1,576 across 34 DoorDash food purchases; and $276 in an online purchase of gun ammunition from Lucky Gunner.
The audit says Boaz may have used time and resources of the town to perform outside consulting work; approved his travel expenses with the mayor’s signature stamp; and had multiple reimbursements lacking support documentation and business justification.
Former Mayor Evan Cockerham contacted the state auditor’s office, the State Bureau of Investigation and the Local Government Commission in October 2024 when it placed Boaz on leave with pay. The following month, it became unpaid leave and in December he was terminated.
Boaz was a management advisor to the community of Ronda when the accusations first started in fall 2024.
Boaz was hired in September 2015 as interim town manager; the interim tag was removed in November 2016. He was also the finance director when he was fired in December 2024 holding a salary exceeding $120,000.
He’s filed litigation against Pilot Mountain and named commissioners as defendants, including some no longer serving the town.
