Federal judge approves forfeiture of over $1.4 million in bribery case tied to former North Carolina political donor Greg Lindberg. Lindberg and co-defendant John Gray were found guilty of federal bribery and fraud charges. Judge Max Cogburn’s order targeted funds seized during the investigation, indicating they were linked to attempted bribery of state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. The funds were held in Wells Fargo accounts under the names of entities controlled by the defendants. The scheme involved bribing the commissioner to remove an employee overseeing the regulation of Lindberg’s insurance companies.
The retrial included recorded conversations, testimony, and evidence detailing the plan to use anonymous entities to hide the source of bribe funds. The funds, totaling $1.4 million, were ultimately seized by the FBI. Lindberg and Gray were previously convicted but had their convictions overturned due to jury instruction issues. A second trial related to a separate indictment against Lindberg has been delayed.
Before the legal troubles, Lindberg had been a major donor to political campaigns in North Carolina, supporting both Democrats and Republicans. He became the largest contributor to the NC Republican Party and groups supporting Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. Lindberg’s involvement in the bribery case has brought a spotlight to his previous political contributions and connections to top North Carolina officials. Lindberg’s sentencing and the resolution of the bribery and fraud case will be awaited anxiously in the political landscape of North Carolina.
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