Ex-Aide to Former N.C. Governor Charged With Corruption

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A former aide to former Gov. Mike Easley was indicted Thursday on more than 50 federal counts, including extortion, bribery and money laundering amid allegations he received personal gain while performing government actions.

A federal grand jury meeting in Raleigh issued 51 charges against Ruffin Poole, who was Easley's former special counsel and aide while the two-term governor was in office.

The indictment accuses Poole of profiting financially from coastal developments that had been approved by state regulators. A "Wilmington financier" not identified by prosecutors sent $260,000 in payments as the return on financing from the Cannonsgate development in Carteret County and another coastal subdivision to a construction company owned by Poole's family, according to the 64-page indictment.

Easley is not accused of wrongdoing in the indictment, the first criminal charges filed in a wide-ranging probe by both state and federal investigators related to Easley, a Democrat who served eight years before leaving office in January 2009 due to term limits.

The maximum punishments add to up hundreds of years in prison.

Poole's attorney didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Federal marshals issued a warrant for his arrest late Thursday, according to documents.

"Public service should not be, and cannot be, an opportunity for improper personal gain by the employee, or by others relying on their friendship with that employee," U.S. Attorney George Holding said in a news release.

Federal grand jurors meeting in Raleigh for most of 2009 have called witnesses seeking testimony and documents about activities surrounding Easley, former first lady Mary Easley and his associates.

In recent months, subpoenas indicated federal prosecutors were interested in coastal real estate developments assembled by two brothers with ties to the former governor and whether anyone made payoffs or gifts to state regulators.

Easley and his wife bought a lot in Cannonsgate in 2005 and received a $137,000 discount, according to documents.

The grand jury also called witnesses to testify about how Mary Easley got a job and a large salary increase at North Carolina State University. The state Highway Patrol also was served with federal subpoenas seeking information about private plane trips taken by Easley and his family.

The State Board of Elections already has acted against Easley's campaign committee, ordering it on Oct. 30 to pay a $100,000 penalty for failing to disclose dozens of flights taken by Easley while he was a candidate and piloted by a political ally. A local prosecutor is now examining whether to file criminal charges against Easley or others related to the campaign finance violations.

Donors to Easley's campaign testified at the hearing, including Gary Allen, who developed Cannonsgate, and Lanny Wilson, a state Board of Transportation member who loaned money to a company run by Allen's brother to complete the development sale.

Wilson testified that Easley's campaign urged them to write checks to the state Democratic Party as a way to help pay for expenses related to Easley's gubernatorial bid. Funneling donations to one campaign committee so the money can go directly to another committee would be illegal.

Poole declined to testify before the elections board, citing his right not to incriminate himself. Evidence in the hearing showed Poole was involved in fundraising for Easley's campaign.

Gary Allen testified that Wilson contacted Poole when Allen was having trouble securing permits for one of his developments. Gary Allen also said a $50,000 check he wrote to the state Democratic Party in advance of the 2004 election had no relation to the eventual approval of a permit at another development he was putting together.

A Raleigh lawyer representing Gary Allen has said development permits for the Allens' projects were approved in a lawful manner.