Up & Coming Weekly

April 09, 2019

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM APRIL 10-16, 2019 UCW 9 North Carolina Republican Party Chairman and former United States Congressman Robin Hayes, R-N.C., is one of several prominent Repub- lican Party leaders charged with public corruption and graft for their alleged participation in a bribery scheme involving improper campaign contributions. Hayes, 73, of Concord, North Carolina, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1999–2009. A federal criminal indict- ment unsealed April 2 in the western district of North Carolina charges the founder and chairman of a multina- tional investment company, a company consultant and a second North Carolina political figure with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, and aiding and abetting, concerning programs receiving federal funds. Hayes was also charged with three counts of lying to the FBI. e indictment charges Greg E. Lindberg, 48, of Durham, North Carolina, the founder and chairman of Eli Global LLC and the owner of Global Bankers Insurance Group; John D. Gray, 68, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a Lindberg consul- tant and chairman of the Chatham County Republican Party; and Eli Global executive John V. Palermo, 63, of Pittsboro, North Carolina. e defendants made their initial appearances April 2 before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler in federal court in Charlotte. "e indictment ... outlines a brazen bribery scheme in which Lindberg and his coconspirators al- legedly offered hundreds of thou- sands of dollars in campaign con- tributions in exchange for official action that would benefit Lindberg's business interests," said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Benczkowski. "Bribery of public officials at any level of government undermines confidence in our political system." North Carolina Insurance Com- missioner Mike Causey, also a Republican, reported what he believed to be suspicious activity to the FBI in January 2018. "ese men crossed the line from fundraising to felonies when they devised a plan to use their connections to a political party to attempt to influence the operations and policies of the North Carolina Department of Insurance," said FBI Special Agent in Charge John A. Strong. According to allegations in the in- dictment, from April 2017 to August 2018, Lindberg, Gray, Palermo and Hayes devised a scheme to defraud the people of North Carolina by attempting to bribe the insurance commissioner to persuade him to take official action favorable to Lindberg's company. e defendants are accused of conspiring to offer and promise the commissioner millions of dollars in campaign contributions and other things of value, in exchange for the removal of the Department of Insurance senior deputy com- missioner, who was responsible for overseeing regulations. In late August 2018, FBI agents interviewed Hayes about his involvement with and knowledge of the alleged improper campaign contributions. During the inter- view, Hayes allegedly lied to FBI agents about directing funds, at Lindberg's request, from Lind- berg's campaign contribution to the North Carolina state political party to the commissioner's reelec- tion campaign, about having any discussions with the commissioner about Lindberg or Gray, and about discussing with the commissioner personnel issues related to the commissioner's office. e details contained in the in- dictment are allegations. e defen- dants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Scandal rocks North Carolina Republican Party by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS Robin Hayes TAX YEAR 2019 NOTICE OF MEETINGS FOR APPEALS FOR THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND REVIEW Pursuant to N.C.G.S. 105-322 the Cumberland County Board of Equalization and Review will meet as required by law. PURPOSE OF MEETINGS To hear, upon request, any and all taxpayers who own or control taxable property assessed for taxation in Cumberland County, with respect to the valuation of such property, or the property of others, and to fulfill other duties and responsibilities as required by law. e Board will convene for accepting appeal requests on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 e Board will adjourn from accepting appeal requests on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Requests for appeal hearings must be received no later than this final adjournment date of WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019. In the event of an earlier or later adjournment date, notice to that effect will be published in this newspaper. All requests for hearings shall be made in writing* to the Board of Equalization and Review or by personal appearance prior to the date of adjournment of the Board, Wednesday, May 8, 2019. Mail written requests for hearings to: Cumberland County Tax Administrator's Office P.O. Box 449 Fayetteville, NC 28302-0449 e schedule for hearing appeals timely filed will be posted at the Office of the Tax Administrator, serving as Clerk to the Board of Equalization and Review, and will also be provided to individuals and organizations that have requested notice pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-318.12. *You may also fax signed appeal forms, available upon request or from the website listed below, prior to the Board Adjournment date of WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019, to: Fax: 910-223-3343 or 910-678-7582 Appeal forms and additional information are available from the Tax Administrator's office by calling 910-678-7507 or by visiting our web-site at http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/departments/tax-group/tax DATES, TIMES AND LOCATION OF MEETINGS e Board will meet at the Cumberland County Courthouse, 5th floor, located at 117 Dick Street, as listed below: Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. in ROOM 564 - Board Convenes Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. in ROOM 564 Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. in ROOM 564 Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. in ROOM 564 - Board Adjourns Requests for appeals may also be submitted in person to Tax Administration, Room 530, 117 Dick Street, M-F, 8:00 to 5:00 pm, but no later than WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. * Advertising Grow Your Business For effective advertising, Call 910.484.6200 today! www.upandcomingweekly.com

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