LOD: The Rogue LaRoque

A federal grand jury has indicted state legislator Rep. Stephen LaRoque (R-Kinston) on a variety of charges related to misusing federal funds received by two nonprofit lending outfits he created “to alleviate poverty and increase economic activity and employment in rural communities.” The charges follow an investigative series by NC Policy Watch and include stealing $300,000 from the federal government, failing to report substantial income to the IRS, and using criminally derived money to purchase jewelry, an ice rink, a home and other gifts for his wife and daughters. The indictment also says LaRoque funneled federal anti-poverty funds into his political campaign and loans for himself and various friends. Yesterday, House Speaker Thom Tillis forwarded the indictment to the legislative ethics committee and encouraged LaRoque, who serves as Tillis’ Rules Committee Co-Chair, to resign.