Feds announce mail fraud charge against Carolyn Grant

The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday that it has charged Raleigh businesswoman Carolyn Grant with one count of mail fraud.

Grant's attorney said over the weekend that she planned to file a plea agreement Tuesday. The mail fraud occurred in a June 2007 mailing and was related to a real estate project on Louisburg Road in Raleigh, Grant's attorney has said.

Grant is a former chairwoman of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

The Justice Department's release says Grant, in a statment, admits she used various business entities to solicit investments and defrauded those investors of millions of dollars.

“When making investment decisions, investors should always consider that if it sounds too  good to be true, it is,” said Keith Fixel,
inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Charlotte Division, in a statement. 

“The US Postal Inspection Service will continue to vigorously pursue those who utilize the US Mail to steal our customers’ hard earned money.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Bragdon is prosecuting the case. Bragdon held a conference call with about 50 investors of Grant's on Friday morning to update them on the federal government's investigation.

Cary businesswoman Phyllis Eller-Moffett, who was among about 50 people on the call, said the investors were told they would have a chance to tell their story at one of Grant's future court hearings.