A community activist tied to disputed Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools contracts steps back from a political post as state investigators examine allegations of financial irregularity and extortion.
A man identified in a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools financial memo, widely reported as Raki McGregor, has resigned from a committee position with the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, following the public release of a 224- to 244-page memo from CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill that alleges financial irregularities, shady contracting, and an attempt to extort her into resigning, according to reporting from WBT and multiple Charlotte-area outlets published between September 17 and 19, 2026. The resignation comes as the Mecklenburg County District Attorney has formally asked the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to examine the contracting practices Hill outlined in her memo.
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The Memo That Triggered a Criminal Referral
Superintendent Hill delivered her memo to the CMS Board of Education in mid-September 2026, detailing roughly two years of board actions and contracting decisions she says reflect preferential treatment toward political allies and potential violations of law, according to WBT's reporting on the 244-page document. WCNC reported the memo at 224 pages, delivered to the board on a Wednesday in mid-September, outlining Hill's complaints about the board's handling of an internal investigation.
Central to Hill's allegations are contracts connecting law firm Poyner Spruill to Qonnect LLC, a consulting company owned by Raki McGregor, described in multiple reports as a former CMS Executive in Residence. WFAE reported that Hill's memo specifically questions board contracts with Poyner Spruill that "routed money" to Qonnect LLC. A related consulting firm, SYDKIMYL, is owned by McGregor's wife, Kimberly McGregor, and was also cited in Yahoo News' coverage of the memo's contracting concerns.
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DA Escalates Matter to State Investigators
On September 18, 2026, the Mecklenburg County District Attorney formally requested that the SBI investigate the alleged financial irregularities described in Hill's memo, according to WSOCTV and WBTV. The referral marks a significant escalation, moving the dispute from an internal governance disagreement into a potential criminal matter involving public funds and district contracting practices.
WBT framed the story bluntly in a headline describing the DA's request as one aimed at determining whether crimes occurred, tying the allegations directly to concerns about "misusing taxpayer money." The outlet also noted that McGregor is a friend of CMS board member Stephanie Sneed, and that both have served on the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg — a detail that has fueled scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest between district contracting and local political networks.
Executive Departures and Unpaid Bills Compound Scrutiny
The controversy has coincided with a wave of departures among CMS's senior leadership. WBTV reported on September 10, 2026, that Chief Financial Officer Sheila Kluttz, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Melissa Balknight, and Chief Human Resources Officer Angela Wood are all leaving the district, with Kluttz and Balknight retiring on January 1, 2027, and Wood resigning earlier. CMS has not publicly linked these departures directly to Hill's memo.
Separately, WBTV reported on September 18, 2026, that internal emails revealed approximately $67,000 in unpaid bills at CMS, with CFO Kluttz identified as the sender of an invoice-related email to Superintendent Hill. The unpaid invoices add another layer of financial concern to a district already facing questions about contract oversight and vendor payments.
Board Pushback and a Looming Public Response
Not all CMS stakeholders accept Hill's characterization of events. WSOCTV reported that some board members have pushed back against the memo's allegations, disputing her framing of contracting decisions and internal processes. A significant section of the memo focuses specifically on payments made to McGregor, described by WSOCTV as "a community activist and former CMS executive in residence."
According to WBTV, the board and Hill are scheduled to hold a direct conversation on September 22, 2026, and board members are preparing to release their own account of events, including findings and the process used in the superintendent's investigation, expected by the end of September 2026. That response could directly contest Hill's extortion allegations or offer alternative explanations for the contested contracts and payments.
What Comes Next for CMS and Its Political Circles
The SBI's investigation is expected to focus on the contracting relationships between Poyner Spruill, Qonnect LLC, and SYDKIMYL, along with any evidence supporting Hill's extortion claims. No formal charges have been announced, and the allegations remain under review rather than legally established.
McGregor's resignation from his Black Political Caucus committee role signals an early ripple effect extending beyond CMS into local political organizations connected to the district's contracting decisions. With CMS simultaneously losing its CFO, deputy superintendent, and HR chief, the district faces a compounding leadership and credibility challenge as investigators, board members, and the public await further findings.
