Buncombe sheriff's office kept money owed to 914 released inmates, state audit found
A May 21, 2025 investigative audit by the NC Office of the State Auditor found the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, led by Sheriff Quentin Miller, had not been returning money in inmates' jail accounts when they were released: 914 people were owed $19,272. The audit, covering July 2021 to April 2024, also found an unsupported balance of $354,804 in the inmate fund bank account, up 252% since 2021, which staff could not explain when first asked. The report said no one in the office was ensuring funds were returned during release. The sheriff's office told auditors it was contacting those owed and had significantly reduced the unsupported balance; the auditor said that reduction has not been audited and that there should be no unsupported balance. The report came weeks after the office disclosed more than 1,000 missing or damaged evidence items.
At the time of our audit, no one in the Sheriff's Office was ensuring the funds were returned during the inmate release process,
Additionally, there was an unsupported balance of $354,804 in the inmate fund bank account, a figure that had grown 252% from 2021 through 2024.
Said those owed money were identified and being contacted, and the unsupported balance had been significantly reduced.
Not yet contacted for this story.
No outcome recorded yet.