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Grand jury indicts state Rep. Wright

Monday, December 10, 2007
(Updated Friday, June 6, 2008 - 4:27 pm)

RALEIGH (AP) — A Wake County grand jury has indicted Democratic state Rep. Thomas Wright on five counts of fraud and one count of obstruction of justice.

Wake County prosecutor Colon Willoughby said Wright is expected to make an initial court appearance in the next few days. Willoughby said he does not expect to charge anyone else in the case.

Wright, of New Hanover County, left his house in Wilmington and drove away in a sport utility vehicle Monday afternoon without speaking to reporters, WECT-TV in Wilmington reported. Wright did not immediately return a message from The Associated Press left on his cell phone Monday afternoon.

According to the indictment, Wright persuaded a state Health and Human Services administrator to write a letter stating that a foundation he led would soon receive a $150,000 state grant. Wright then used the letter to fraudulently obtain a bank loan for the same amount, the indictment states.

The indictment also accuses Wright of falsely obtaining $8,900 from three companies by contending the money would be used for the foundation's charitable work. Instead, the money "was converted to the use and benefit of the defendant," according to the indictment.

The obstruction of justice charge alleges that Wright failed to report about $185,000 in campaign contributions and converted those payments for his own use. In September, the State Board of Elections staff suspended Wright's campaign after it failed to file a finance report for the first half of the year.

Wright is in his eighth legislative term.

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