MEDIA ADVISORY
 
 
Contact:  Anjanette Grube, Public Information Director
                980-781-3049
 
 
SBI MAKES ARREST IN NC ELECTION FRAUD CASE
 
Bladenboro, NC – February 27, 2019 – The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has made an arrest in the investigation into election fraud in the North Carolina 9^th Congressional District.  Following an investigation by the SBI’s Special Investigations Unit, agents from the Southeastern and Coastal Districts assisted the Special Investigations Unit with the arrest of Leslie McCrae Dowless on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, in Bladenboro.  He was taken into custody without incident.  Agents brought Dowless to the Wake County Detention Center where he has been charged with three counts of felony obstruction of justice, two counts of conspiracy to commit felony obstruction of justice and two counts of possession of an absentee ballot.  Several other people face charges as a result of the investigation.  Because this is an ongoing investigation, any questions should be directed to Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman’s office.