A Wilmington businessman politically connected to former Gov. Mike Easley resigned yesterday from the state toll-road authority, days after a former Easley aide was indicted on charges of unlawfully profiting from a development involving the businessman.
Lanny Wilson sent his letter resigning from the N.C. Turnpike Authority board of directors to Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, who had picked him for the panel. Wilson, who was the authority's vice chairman, did not give a reason for his departure in the three-sentence letter.
Last Thursday, Wilson resigned from the N.C. Board of Transportation because he wanted to "avoid further unnecessary distractions" that would impede Gov. Bev Perdue's transportation reforms, according to his resignation letter.
The board of transportation letter was released hours before a federal grand jury indicted former Easley aide Ruffin Poole on 51 federal corruption charges, including extortion, bribery and money laundering. Poole was Easley's former special counsel and aide during the governor's two terms.
Government prosecutors say that Poole accepted gifts from a "Wilmington financier" who was unidentified in the indictment. The indictment said that Easley appointed the financier to the transportation board in 2001, just as Wilson was. Wilson was the only board member from Wilmington.
Poole also used his position to help expedite coastal developments while making returns of at least 25 percent on investments in two of the same properties that the financier had invested in as well, according to prosecutors.
Wilson had been identified years ago as helping finance the sale of Cannonsgate in Carteret County, one of the developments named in the indictment.
Wilson's attorney didn't return a phone call for comment. Poole had not turned himself to federal authorities as of yesterday.
Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, had released a statement yesterday before Wilson's resignation calling on him to step down from the turnpike authority or Perdue to force him out.
"This resignation is long overdue, and should have been demanded by Governor Perdue long ago," state GOP chairman Tom Fetzer said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement