Wilson quits Transportation Board; Easley aide indicted

A Wilmington developer who raised campaign money for Mike Easley and Bev Perdue has resigned from the state Board of Transportation. Lanny Wilson said in his resignation letter he’s stepping down after nine years to avoid “any further unnecessary distractions” as Perdue reforms the board and Department of Transportation.

Wilson testified before the state Board of Elections last fall about large checks he wrote to the Democratic Party for Easley’s campaign. Wilson also loaned money to a company to finance the sale of a Carteret County development that is part of a federal probe into Easley’s activities.

Hours after Wilson resigned, a federal grand jury in Raleigh indicted a former aide to Easley on 51 counts, including obstruction and bribery. Prosecutors claim Ruffin Poole received personal gain while performing government actions.

The indictment accuses Poole of profiting financially from that Carteret County development. The indictment says Poole got the money from an unnamed “Wilmington financier.” No word on if that financier is Lanny Wilson.

Wilson did not immediately return our calls for comment this afternoon.