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Jim Black gets 5 years in prison
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Candidate
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| Contributor | Sarnstrom |
| Last Edited | Sarnstrom Jul 12, 2007 12:16am |
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| Category | Legal Ruling |
| News Date | Wednesday, July 11, 2007 06:15:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | RALEIGH — Former state House Speaker Jim Black’s sentencing Wednesday to 63 months in federal prison does not necessarily end one of the biggest public corruption scandals in state history.
Federal prosecutors said after the sentencing that a $500,000 transaction between Black and a lobbyist in 2000 is under state and federal investigation.
Black, 72, was sentenced for accepting $29,000 from chiropractors from 2002 to 2005 in exchange for advancing legislation benefiting their profession. His sentence could be reduced about nine months for good behavior.
The optometrist from Mecklenburg County who served four terms as House speaker also was fined $50,000.
He is expected to report to prison in about 30 days. Black and his lawyers left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.
Some of Black’s meetings with chiropractors took place in restaurant bathrooms. Those meetings were noted by U.S. Attorney George Holding after the hearing.
“North Carolinians are not going to put up with a politician prostituting his power in deals so corrupt they have to be transacted in the restroom,” Holding said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Duffy said, “He is a corrupt politician and has been for years.”
Inside the courtroom, Black apologized.
“I accept full responsibility for the mistakes I made,” he said. “I’d like to apologize to my colleagues in the North Carolina General Assembly ... and to the people of North Carolina for the stupid mistakes that I have made.”
Black has been linked to several questionable transactions with chiropractors, optometrists, the video poker business, the lottery and a bribe with another lawmaker.
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