North Carolina Lobbyists Indicted Over Allegedly Funding Kentucky Bourbon Distillery Trip for Lawmakers

The North Carolina Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., is seen, Wednesday, June 5, 2024. (Photo: AP Photo/Makiya Seminera)

Four North Carolina lobbyists have been indicted by a Wake County Grand Jury for allegedly hosting a Kentucky Bourbon Trail distillery tour for state lawmakers, per WRAL News.

The indictment, filed on Wednesday, alleges that the lobbyists encouraged companies to make donations to the Greater Carolina non-profit, which then payed for cushy trip that included pit stops at the Sitzel-Weller, Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill distilleries. The trip was attended by several North Carolina General Assembly members, which the indictments say violating a state law that bans lobbyists from providing gifts to elected officials.

Named in the indictment was Kevin Wilkinson, president and founder of the Southern Group; Bo Heath, a partner with McGuireWoods Consulting; Doug Miskew, president and founder of Public Sector Group and David Ferrell of Maynard.

The invitation-only tour took place on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in April 2024. According to the indictment, Wilkson encouraged the Sazerac Company — owner of Buffalo Trace and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky — to host a distilley tasting and dinner, for which Sazerac eventually paid.

Heath is accussed of soliciting funds from Diageo North America to fund a trip to the Stizel-Weller Distillery in Shively, Kentucky, while Ferrel allegedly solicited funds from the North Carolina Spirits Association to fund a barrel pick and lunch at the Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Miskew reportedly asked Churchill Downs Inc. to host and pay for a buffet at the site of the Kentucky Derby.

An image of the trip invitation circulated by Greater Carolina. (Photo: Greater Carolina)

The event was brought to the state’s attention in August 2024, when progressive advocacy group Carolina Forward complained that Greater Carolina was using its nonprofit tax status to skirt lobbying restrictions. 501 (c)(4) nonprofits like Greater Carolina have sometimes been described as “dark money” groups, in part because they’re generally not require to identify donors.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman has yet to identify which lawmakers attended the trip. She has also said that none of the lobbyists clients will face charges, as the companies are out-of-state entities.