Feds indict one of NC's largest political donors, party leader and others

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One of North Carolina’s largest political donors has been arrested on bribery charges — as have three alleged co-conspirators, including the chairman of the N.C. Republican Party.

[NCGOP chairman indicted on federal bribery, wire fraud charges]

A just-unsealed indictment names Eli Global CEO Greg Lindberg along with alleged coconspirators — Chapel Hill-based consultant John Gray; John Palermo Jr., Eli Global vice president of special projects and a past official of the GOP in Chatham County; and state Republican Party Chairman Robert Cannon Hayes — accusing them of attempting to bribe North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. Hayes, better known as Robin Hayes, also faces charges of making false statements to FBI investigators.

“Greg Lindberg is innocent of the charges in the indictment and we look forward to demonstrating this when we get our day in court,” Lindberg’s counsel stated in an email Tuesday.

The indictment, dated March 18 and filed in North Carolina’s western district, claims Causey told the feds last January of “concerns about political contributions and requests” made by both Lindberg and Gray. Lindberg, who donated more than $5 million in 2017 and 2018 alone, is also one of the state’s most prolific donors.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to defraud the N.C. Department of Insurance and get Causey “to take official action favorable to Lindberg’s companies through bribery of the Commissioner.”

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Cox Media Group