Wake County DA Responds to Dowless Indictment

CHARLOTTE, NC – McCrae Dowless was booked into the Wake County Detention Center on Wednesday. He’s the first person to be criminally charged in the criminal investigation into election fraud in the 2016 and 2018 elections.

Dowless is accused of felony obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit felony obstruction of justice and possession of an absentee ballot.

Four other people were named in a 16 page indictment released by the Wake County District Attorney.

The indictment states that Dowless led an operation where “ballots were collected from voters and taken into possession unlawfully…”

“This is very much an ongoing investigation and we will go wherever the evidence leads us,” said Lorrin Freeman, the Wake County District Attorney.

She says the crimes were committed during the 2016 election cycle and the 2018 primary.
The indictment says “this offense was done with deceit and intent to defraud and against the peace and dignity of the state.”

Freeman says she anticipates more charges to be brought against Dowless and others pertaining to the 2018 general election, but she didn’t name who was being investigated.
“Who was responsible for funding these operations and what their level of knowledge was,” explained Freeman.

Dowless’s attorney, Cynthia Singletary didn’t return phone calls from WCCB on Wednesday.

Last week we questioned her after Dowless declined to testify in front of the board of elections without immunity.
We asked if Dowless had done anything illegal.

“No, no,” she replied.

Singletary also hinted at the possibility of an indictment at some point in the future.

“Do I think he’s guilty of any of that? No, I mean there is always the possibility of some kind of charges,” said Singletary.

Dan McCready called the indictment an “important first step” to holding “operatives, candidates, and party leaders” accountable.

Dowless is due in court on Monday. Also on Monday, the State Board of Elections will decide on a new election schedule.

It’s possible a general election could be held as early as July.