Former N.C. House member expected to enter S.C. federal prison

RALEIGH. (AP) — Former North Carolina state Rep. Michael Decker is headed to a federal prison in Bennettsville, South Carolina Tuesday.

Decker was sentenced to four years in prison in April for accepting a bribe to switch political parties.

Decker’s deal helped then-House Speaker Jim Black retain power but also led to his downfall. The former democratic house speaker is serving a five-year prison sentence for political corruption.

A judge sentenced Decker on one count of soliciting and accepting $50,000 in cash and campaign contributions to switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party.