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Wright convicted
posted at 2008-04-07 13:26 | Last modified 2008-04-07 13:26
Former state Representative Thomas Wright was found guilty today on three out of four counts of felony fraud. A Wake county jury found the Wilmington Democrat guilty of obtaining a $150,000 bank loan under false pretenses.
Wright was also found guilty of using his non profit foundation to solicit $7400 dollars in charitable donations from Astra Zeneca and Anheuser Busch, and then pocketing the money for his own use. Wright was found not guilty of a third charge of pocketing a charitable contribution from AT&T.
Wright showed no emotion as the verdicts were read.
Next step
Wake County DA Colon Willoughby will ask the jury to approve an aggravating factor on the bank loan count because Wright was a public official. That could mean an even tougher sentence. Judge Henry Hight threw out three other aggravating factors proposed by the prosecution.
Hight could sentence Wright to 6 to 8 months in prison on each of the two counts of misusing charitable donations, and up to 7 1/2 years for the bank fraud conviction. It’s not clear whether he’ll proceed with sentencing today.
"Unfair"
Wright’s attorney Doug Harris blamed the guilty verdict on a tainted jury, saying the bad publicity around Wright’s expulsion from the statehouse influenced the jury’s decision. He says he’ll appeal for immediate relief and has no doubt the verdict will be set aside.
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