Wake County grand jury indicts four lobbyists over bourbon trail trip

A Wake County grand jury has indicted four prominent lobbyists over an invitation-only Kentucky bourbon trip that prosecutors say funneled travel, meals and event access to North Carolina lawmakers through a Mooresville nonprofit.

Kevin Wilkinson of The Southern Group, Douglas Bowen “Bo” Heath of McGuireWoods Consulting, Douglas Miskew of Public Sector Group and David Ferrell of Maynard Nexsen each face a misdemeanor charge of solicitation to commit a violation of state laws that bar lobbyists and lobbying principals from giving gifts to legislators, directly or indirectly.

The indictments, returned Monday, say the alleged conduct grew out of an April 2024 Kentucky Bourbon Trail trip that included lawmakers from the North Carolina General Assembly and featured a lunch, a barrel pick, a reception, distillery tours, bourbon tastings, dinners, hotel accommodations and a horse-racing event at Churchill Downs. Prosecutors say some of the costs were paid through contributions made to Greater Carolina, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit based in Mooresville, with the intent that lawmakers would benefit.

That money trail matters in Raleigh, where lobbyists, trade groups and lawmakers operate in the same orbit around the state Capitol. The indictment says the North Carolina Spirits Association was tied to the trip as a sponsor at a reception. The association says it represents retail, broker and supplier interests that account for 96% of total spirit sales in North Carolina.

The case grew out of a complaint Carolina Forward filed in August 2024, when the group accused Greater Carolina of using nonprofit status to get around the state’s gift ban. The complaint also widened attention on how 501(c)(4) groups are used in North Carolina politics, especially when donations move through a nonprofit before reaching a public official’s benefit.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said in September 2025 that she was investigating whether the trip broke state ethics and lobbying laws. She later said she did not anticipate further charges related to the Kentucky trip, though the investigation into Greater Carolina remained open.

Greater Carolina dismissed early allegations about boorish behavior on the trip as overblown and said the event was a legitimate fundraising effort. Wilkinson said he welcomed a complete and thorough review and expected to be cleared. McGuireWoods Consulting said it fully supported Heath and believed he did nothing wrong. Comments from Ferrell and Miskew were not immediately returned.

For Wake County, where the state’s political class works within a few blocks of each other, the indictments add another test of trust in the system meant to separate civic business from gifts, perks and paid access.