NC: Former State Ag Commissioner Sentenced To 48 Months In Prison

WRAL-TV [Raleigh, N.C.] ^ | March 2, 2004 | Reporter: Cullen Browder

[Constitution Day]

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A judge sentenced former state Ag Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps to 48 months in prison Tuesday for her role in a campaign finance scandal.

Phipps will also have two years of supervised probation and must pay a $25,000 fine. U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Howard read the sentence to Phipps Tuesday in a Greenville courtroom. She was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals after the verdict was read.

[Constitution Day]

Note:
YES, she's a Democrat!

CD

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Meg Scott Phipps: Timeline Of Events

Jan. 2000:
Meg Scott Phipps announces run for state Ag Commissioner.

Nov. 7, 2000:
Phipps defeats Republican Steve Troxler to replace Jim Graham after 36 years in office.

Jan. 29, 2002:
Phipps signed a new State Fair deal with Amusements of America, pushing out Strates Shows after 53 years in the midway. The state board of Agriculture fought the decision and Strates filed suit.

June 7, 2002:
Phipps fined $130,000 by State Board Of Elections for taking illegal contributions and using campaign money to pay campaign rival's debt.

July 22, 2002:
Federal government starts to investigate Phipps' campaign.

September 4, 2002:
Grand jury hears evidence about Phipps' campaign.

March 11, 2003:
Two of Phipps' aides, Bobby McLamb and Linda Saunders, indicted for roles in election campaign.

May 13, 2003:
Gov. Easley calls for Phipps' resignation; Phipps vows to remain in office.

June 6, 2003:
Deputy Ag Commissioner Mike Blanton indicted on 10 counts, ranging from obstruction of justice and perjury.

June 6, 2003:
Phipps resigns as state Ag Commissioner.

July 8, 2003:
Phipps iss indicted on state election fraud charges.

Aug. 5, 2003:
Skyride operator Jimmie Drew pleaded guilty to giving illegal cash payments to Phipps.

Sept. 4, 2003:
Phipps is indicted on 28 federal charges, including extortion, witness tampering and fraud.

[JohnnyZ]

48 months!!!! Do they expect North Carolinians to be able to figure out how many years that is???

[Constitution Day]

I don't know, but do they teach you Yankees to use so much excess punctuation?

[lelio]

Will she actually do time?

Phipps fined $130,000 by State Board Of Elections for taking illegal contributions and using campaign money to pay campaign rival's debt.

That's a little odd: why would she pay off a rival's debt? Unless she perhaps picked a weak rival to fend off a challenge from a stronger one. What's the story there?

[cynicom]

This NC redneck is working on it, give me a few more minutes.

[kcvl]

Are these amusement company people related to any of the Clinton "friends" and campaign contributors that threw the hillbilly carnival at the White House?

[Constitution Day]

[Constitution Day]

NC ping!
Please FRmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[Constitution Day]

I don't know. The amusement company in question was Amusements of America, IIRC.

[Overtaxed]

Got milk?

[Constitution Day]

I think she will do the time, and all of it. These are federal charges.
The campaign rival, Bobby McLamb, was her rival in the Dem. primary, I think. He eventually became one of her aides.

story here

[Rockitz]

Any Edwards connection???

[Constitution Day]

I have no idea, sorry. Would that it were so!

[spacewarp]

I can give you one small one, and I'm sure there are more. Phipps was defended by Wade Smith. Wade Smith, former head of the NC Democratic Party, is also a partner in the law offices of Tharrington Smith. Edwards used to work in that practice. I believe he was a partner. He branched out on his own at some point. I'm not sure why.

[Servant of the 9]

Great Start, now how do we get the rest of the Democrats in with her?

So9

[Lee'sGhost]

"I don't know, but do they teach you Yankees to use so much excess punctuation?"

Must be so.

Hillary!

[Constitution Day]

Heh. Good one. ;)

[Howlin]

She'll do every day of this sentence.

And she damn well better: I'm convinced the only reason she took a plea is because her daddy was going to be indicted, too.

She took the plea the very next morning after Bob Scott spent 8 hours in front of a grand jury, after vowing to fight to the end.

Hell, he admitted taking BAGS of money into her office and telling her employees to MAKE UP NAMES of who contributed it!

[Indy Pendance]

"YES, she's a Democrat!

Let's here it for nepotism!

"Phipps' father, former Gov. Bob Scott, left the courthouse without comment."

[dei23]

Do you think she will get any time on the State charges?