N.C. Gen. Stat. § 66-40

If any person unlawfully sells, pledges, lends, or in any other way disposes of or permits or is a party to the unlawful selling, pledging, lending, or other disposition of any goods, wares, merchandise, or anything deposited in a public warehouse, without the authority of the party who deposited the same, he shall be punished by a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) and by imprisonment in the State's prison for not more than three years; but no officer, manager, or agent of such public warehouse shall be liable to the penalties provided in this section unless, with the intent to injure or defraud any person, he so sells, pledges, lends, or in any other way disposes of the same, or is a party to the selling, pledging, lending, or other disposition of any goods, wares, merchandise, article, or thing so deposited.