Former NC government official in court

RALEIGH — A former state environmental official is expected in court to respond to charges he took money from an ethanol company to expedite environmental permits for a proposed plant.

A court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning for Boyce Allen Hudson. Federal prosecutors accuse Hudson of two corruption charges related to a 2004 scheme to help the company.

Court documents allege Hudson would have received $100,000 in cash and another $96,000 in consulting fees if the company received necessary permits within 90 days and enough investments for the plant.

Prosecutors say Hudson received at least $15,000 in payments related to the project. The name of the ethanol company isn’t included in the court documents.

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