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The Daily Tar Heel
View from the Hill

Former Republican NC lawmaker pleads guilty to stealing $150k

Former North Carolina state lawmaker Stephen LaRoque pled guilty this week to stealing $150,000 from a federally funded nonprofit organization.

LaRoque, a Republican, served three terms in the N.C. House representing the 10th district — including parts of Sampson, Duplin and Johnston counties in the eastern part of the state — until he resigned under pressure in 2012 after being charged with stealing from two federally funded nonprofits he controlled.

In 2013, LaRoque was convicted on 12 counts of stealing from his economic development nonprofit, but was granted a retrial on ten of those counts due to jury misconduct. The other two counts were dismissed after it was revealed that a juror conducted inappropriate Internet research during the trial.

As part of a deal to get the rest of the counts against him dismissed, LaRoque pled guilty to stealing $150,000 from the East Carolina Development Company, a federally-funded nonprofit organization.

The company was created to provide loans to rural businesses using funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but investigators have found loans from the company that have funded LaRoque’s personal investments, including an ice skating rink and a rental property.

LaRoque scammed taxpayers in order to give himself $2.1 million in salary payments and $300,000 in interest-free personal loans used to purchase a house, new cars, an ice-skating rink and most peculiarly a set of jewel-encrusted Faberge eggs.

Less than three weeks ago, LaRoque was attempting to have his indictment thrown out, claiming that it came after the grand jury’s 18-month term ended. The judge denied the request, prompting LaRoque’s guilty plea.

LaRoque must now reimburse the East Carolina Development Company $300,000 and is facing up to ten years in prison.

state@dailytarheel.com

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