Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Robert Lee Caldwell of Morganton was indicted on Tuesday in connection with Bev Perdue’s 2008 gubernatorial campaign . The prosecutor, Colon Willoughby, said there’s no evidence suggesting that Perdue or her staff knew that Caldwell used an illegal contribution to pay for a campaign air flight. However, he also said, “I would not be surprised to see more charges” related to the on-going state investigation. The US Attorney’s office is also looking into contributions made to Perdue’s campaign. Meanwhile, Billy Williams, former head of New Hanover County ABC liquor stores, was indicted on charges he used ABC funds to pay for construction of a two-story garage at his home. The contractor has already pleaded guilty for his part in the scam. Williams is the local liquor chief whose enormous salary and other perks sparked an uproar that led to exposure of similar abuses in other parts of the state and reverberated into calls to privatize the ABC system.