NC town clerk replaced after $500K scandal, successor now accused of erasing her own bills

CHOCOWINITY, NORTH CAROLINA: A North Carolina town clerk who replaced a predecessor accused of embezzling more than $500,000 is now facing felony charges of her own.

Lauren Ashley Hoggard, the former Chocowinity town clerk, was arrested on October 27, 2026, after a Beaufort County grand jury returned three true bills of indictment against her. Investigators allege that she misused municipal funds, improperly paid herself through the town's payroll system and voided utility bills for her personal residences instead of paying them.

The three indictments cover alleged misconduct between 2022 and 2024. Each involves property valued at less than $100,000, although the filings do not specify an exact financial loss. Hoggard's arrest comes after she was dismissed from her position in August 2024, following an investigation requested by local authorities.

Lauren Ashley Hoggard accused of erasing personal utility bills and misusing town funds

According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Hoggard allegedly voided utility bills linked to her personal residences rather than paying the charges. Investigators also accused her of receiving more money than she was entitled to through the municipal payroll system and taking cash that should have been deposited into Chocowinity's bank account.

Two of the three indictments concern utility-account credits allegedly misused in 2023 and 2024. The 2023 case, filed under 26CR004893-060, accuses Hoggard of embezzling and misapplying credited value belonging to the Town of Chocowinity Utility Department. The second utility-related indictment, 26CR004894-060, makes similar allegations concerning 2024. Both filings identify Hoggard as the town clerk entrusted with the property and cite North Carolina General Statute 14-92.

A third indictment, 26CR004892-060, concerns US currency belonging to the town in 2022. It accuses Hoggard of embezzling and misapplying municipal money entrusted to her as clerk.

All three indictments were dated October 26 and marked as true bills. The cases were filed on October 27, the same day Hoggard was arrested. Each describes the property involved as worth less than $100,000, placing the alleged offenses within the Class F felony threshold under the cited law.

Ashley Hoggard was fired after SBI investigation was requested

Hoggard's arrest follows an investigation that had been requested more than two years earlier. According to WITN's September 2024 report, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and district attorney requested an SBI investigation into Hoggard on July 26, 2024.

A termination letter obtained by the news outlet showed that Hoggard was placed on unpaid administrative leave on August 20 and dismissed the following day. The letter cited failure to perform her duties and personal conduct.

Michelle Peele subsequently took over as the interim town clerk.

Hoggard had assumed the clerk's position in July 2022, replacing Joy Annette McRoy, who was also the town's finance officer. McRoy had left the position before becoming the subject of a separate investigation into missing municipal funds.

Joy Annette McRoy accused of embezzling more than $500K from Chocowinity

McRoy's case involved allegations of more than $500,000 in embezzled municipal funds between 2015 and 2022. According to the SBI's December 2023 announcement, investigators accused the former clerk of increasing her own payroll and using town credit cards for personal purchases.

A Beaufort County grand jury indicted McRoy on December 11, 2023, on eight counts of embezzlement by a public officer or employee. Three charges were Class C felonies involving at least $100,000 each, while the remaining five were Class F felonies. McRoy surrendered to authorities the following day.

WITN reported that McRoy had worked for Chocowinity for more than 23 years. Mayor James Mobley Jr said the town contacted local authorities about its financial records in July 2022, which led to the earlier investigation.

The two cases have now placed successive Chocowinity town clerks under scrutiny over allegations involving municipal money.

Lauren Ashley Hoggard released on $135K secured bond as cases remain pending

Following Hoggard's October 27 arrest, Beaufort County Superior Court records showed that arrest orders had been returned as served in all three cases.

A release order dated October 27 listed a single secured bond of $135,000 covering the three indictments. Court registers showed that the bond was posted that afternoon through a professional surety. Notices issued following the indictments stated that the district attorney would set a date for Hoggard's appearance in Superior Court.

The cases remained pending as of October 31, 2026.