Prosecutor: Ex-N.C. House speaker received $500K from lobbyist

RALEIGH (AP) — New information regarding former House Speaker Jim Black could affect his fate at a sentencing hearing tomorrow.

Documents filed by the US Attorney's office say Black received a half-million dollars from an unidentified lobbyist for his 2000 campaign, an apparent violation of state election laws even though the money was returned.

Black pleaded guilty in February to a felony charge for taking thousands of dollars in cash from chiropractors while promoting their industry's agenda.

According to the filing, Black received a $500,000 check in June 2000 from a lobbyist that was deposited directly into his campaign account. Then Black wrote a check from his campaign account for the same amount back to the lobbyist.

Shortly thereafter, Black made another $500,000 deposit into his campaign account and reported it in campaign filings as a personal loan.

Black faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)