A Durham grand jury indicted Cassandra Stokes, 35, the former chair of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People political action committee, on May 18, 2026. She faces two counts of felony embezzlement and one count of obtaining property by false pretenses after prosecutors said money vanished from the PAC's accounts.
According to court filings, Stokes is accused of taking about $31,500 in 2023 and roughly $43,475 in 2024, for a total close to $75,000. Prosecutors allege she drained PAC funds by writing checks to herself and to "cash," making unauthorized ATM and in-branch withdrawals, and using the PAC debit card for personal care and entertainment, as reported by The News & Observer.
How the probe began
The State Bureau of Investigation's financial crimes unit opened a year-long inquiry after new PAC leadership asked for transition records and brought in a certified public accountant to review the books. WRAL Investigates reported that leaders discovered missing bank statements and that attorney and former lawmaker Floyd McKissick Jr. sent the CPA's findings to Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry, triggering the SBI review.
Leadership fallout and reaction
Once the irregularities surfaced, several PAC officers, including Donald Hughes and former Mayor Elaine O'Neal, resigned their posts. The committee then ordered an audit, which confirmed financial problems inside the political arm. In a statement, McKissick said the Durham Committee is a victim in the case and thanked prosecutors and investigators for the work that led to the indictment, according to The News & Observer.
Why it matters locally
The Durham Committee's PAC has long been a heavyweight in local politics, especially on endorsements and voter outreach, so any hint of trouble with its finances ripples through city and county races. The committee maintains a public website with information on its programs and history, and filings in ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer show recent tax and financial data. The organization also outlines its civic work on its own site at Durham Committee.
Legal next steps
An indictment is a formal accusation, not a finding of guilt. Stokes is expected to be scheduled for arraignment, and the case will then move through pretrial hearings in Durham's courts. WRAL Investigates notes that the SBI and the Durham District Attorney's Office handled the probe after the CPA's audit, and local outlets have sought comment from Stokes and committee leaders as the case develops.
