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Donor Rusty Carter swore he did it alone; more donations are listed.

Submitted by andycurliss on 06/18/2010 - 11:41

Wilmington businessman and major fundraiser Rusty Carter said in a sworn affidavit that no one directed him to illegally give more than $330,000 in campaign contributions, and that he never told any campaigns he was doing so.

Carter indicated in the affidavit that someone told him there was broad latitude in what was legal.

"I have been told...," he said in the affidavait, "your wife, kids, dogs and cats can all make contributions."

Carter, a former member of the UNC-Chapel Hill board of trustees, added that he didn't know who told him that.

"I do not know which campaign the individual worked for or in which election time period the statement was made to me."

Carter recently was convicted as part of a plea deal of funneling tens of thousands in campaign contributions to three candidates — Gov. Bev Perdue, Senate leader Marc Basnight and state Sen. Julia Boseman.

But documents from the state Board of Elections provide a detailed listing of other contributions that Carter says were handled the same way.

At the time of the plea, prosecutors noted that the state's statute of limitations on the illegal campaign giving was two years, but that some older ones were part of the plea. Carter was fined $5,000 on the misdemeanor charge and is prohibited from making campaign donations for two years. Since then, some elected officials have said such illegal giving should be a felony.

The listing includes money that Carter gave through his family members or that he gave in bonus money to his employees at the Atlantic Corp., a packaging company.

Only the company reimbursements were part of the plea deal.

Here are the totals for both types of giving, according to Carter's affidavit:

• $92,000 to the campaign of Basnight, a Democrat.

• $68,000 to the campaign of Perdue, a Democrat.

• $42,000 to the 2004 U.S. Senate campaign of Erskine Bowles, a Democrat.

• $39,000 to the campaign of former Gov. Mike Easley, a Democrat.

• $35,900 to the campaign of Bush-Cheney 2004. They are Republicans.

• $30,000 to the campaign of state Sen. Julia Boseman of Wilmington, a Democrat.

• $25,000 to the Republican Party.

• $8,000 to the Democratic Party.

The affidavit and supporting documents are attached.

In the document, the Basnight, Perdue and Boseman donations listed in Attachment C were part of the criminal case plea. The other donations (Easley, Bowles, Bush-Cheney) were not part of the plea deal. In addition, none of the donations listed on Attachment D were part of the plea deal.

— J. Andrew Curliss

Documents:

Rusty Carter file.pdf

1276886650 Donor Rusty Carter swore he did it alone; more donations are listed. The News and Observer Copyright 2011 The News and Observer . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

Is this the guy that owns

Thu, 09/27/2012 - 21:22 — awdracer

Is this the guy that owns the Pole Position boat on the NC coast? I seem to remember numerous pictures of Tyler Hansbrough and other UNC basketball players partying on his boat.

Wow. What an unexpected coincidence.

Go after Rusty at Federal Level please!

Sat, 09/25/2010 - 08:30 — Rusted

I hope the Law can still go after Rusty despite his ALFORD PLEA (well, yes, I am guilty as hell but we will not say that awful word and just tap my wrist for a $5K fine and we'll call it even.") I hope he used an expensive attorney like George Rountree at least, because Georgie was able to skim over $100,000.00 in NH County taxpayer money to defend the great honor of the crooked ABC Board and its worker bees THE WILLIAMS BOYS.

I think Mr Williams (he of HS education and able to stock shelves in a 5 story county liquor store monopoly, all without breaking his #2 pencil!) is a legend for making a larger annual pension than does Dr. Leutze ex-President of UNCW. Amazing that Mr Williams is in TOP FIVE ALL-TIME biggest pensions in the state of NC!!! ($195,000.00 plus benefits per year for life, retired at 62). We're still waiting to hear about lots of the local CLUB MEMBERS, as to if the Feds or State or lord forbid LOCAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS actually get criminal charges for all their various slimy behavior.

Rusty

Sat, 06/19/2010 - 06:52 — kkensington

LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rusty was Busted then the DA Adjusted

Sat, 09/25/2010 - 08:20 — Rusted

Though he should have served jail until he rusted. For those who have asked, Rusty is yet another of the Southeast "honorable gentlemen" (well, that is what they call each other....right MR TOM OLD asst DA NH County?!) They make up a little known Chapel Hill Alumni association, called, THE LUCKY SPERM CLUB. First, grow up in the last aristocracy in 21st century America. Next ingredient: go to schools that keep you stupid and believing myths of the revisionists instead of real factual history. Then, take Daddy's success, or that of relatives generations before Daddy, and then loot their money to break laws to buy favor to burnish their legacy so they do not seem as useless as they really are.Result: few folks with talent. Like the last Republican Governor nominee who is now bankrupt and foreclosed and exalting in Jesus and his role in humbling the real estate market.

It is idiots like Patrick B who over-borrowed and overspent and didn't STUDY HISTORY with accuracy (thus making them prone to believe new myths, like "sub-primes are a great idea!") So now everyone else (residential) go down with them as the Dems continue to prop up the market for some un-capitalistic reason....let it crash....let the smart money clean up the mess and put us back into recovery.

Because he says so ....

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 19:01 — AgentPierce

Rusty acted alone ..... because he says so. This is a guy who takes significant financial advice from unknown voices with unknown affiliations ......

"Ruuuusty, oh Russssty, this is your unknown voice calling again. Leave an attache case loaded with stacks of $100 bills, in non-consecutive serial numbers, under the park bench in Moore Square next to the Big Acorn. Write TO: AgentPierce on the case. Also leave a ham sandwich with lots of mustard. Then call Bev Perdue and ask her if she has Prince Albert in a can. If so, let him out. That's all Rusty

Sincerely

Rusty's Voice Advisor

Jeeeeez, what a nitwit.

Criminal empire of UNC Chapel Hill grads

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 13:31 — Greedbuster

Look how many tarheels have been convicted of crimes in the last 15 years, most of which were over politics. If the federal government hasn't yet noticed a trend among these people then the federal government is inept. Each of the 17 UNC system schools has a UNC Chapel Hill grad on its board of trustees and they micromanage the system in highly criminal and unethical ways. So add it up. Criminal actions by UNC Chapel Hill grads. Extravagant buildings not needed. Top researchers leaving for other states because the UNC system doesn't have the money to pay them what they're worth. Which is more important, PEOPLE or bricks, concrete, and athletic complexes? The entity of UNC Chapel Hill is the problem and the worker ants are all criminal thugs keeping their choices in office politically. The feds need to wiretap and tag every one of these people and bust them using the R.I.C.O. statute.

Carter must be NC's own George Soros ...

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 13:14 — BitterEXdemocrat

did you know that Soros is getting $2 BILLION for his Brazilian oil company from Obama?

make that from YOU.

He worked alone....dang the

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 13:07 — aquaman4life68

He worked alone....dang the man is caught and he's still not telling the truth. When have we ever seen anyone in the political area EVER to a criminal act alone!?!?!

Sad to see this stupid man, think the rest of us are as stupid as he is!

"as fouled up as A Chinese

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 12:57 — AgentPierce

"as fouled up as A Chinese fire Drill on a Russian Holiday."

******

I've never heard that line exactly like that. I like it. Unless henrye has it copyrighted, I'm stealing it.

Rusty Carters damage

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 12:47 — Sodapop

One can only wonder the irreparable damage done to the State, especially Eastern North Carolina, by his accumulated political influence. He and those funding his illegal political contributions have deterred economic growth by their involvement in port development, Interstate highway management, all for their personal gain and power, not to mention their ability to get high level government appointments on authorities, agency boards, advisory groups, etc.

In far west America, anyone or any group that so hurt the public would be hung in the public square. He will be back in business before this is circulated, if not already so, read about current NC legislative actions regarding development in the Wilmington area.

Dumb, dumber and dumdest

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 12:22 — feedupvoter

What kind of money did this guy make? What does he do for a living? He was a trustee at UNC and he thinks he can give all these money and what does he get in return? You do not give this kind of money and not want something back. He had to ask his CPA or somebody about giving this much money and he gave it to both parties. I know he just wanted to help people out.

Bottom of the barrel politics.

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 12:13 — kirtl

This guy is so stinking dirty just being in the same room with him should be a crime. I'll bet he has been cozy with many high ranking state officials but none of them did anything wrong right? Right. And no democrats/progressives are going to come out and vigorously condemn this guy or his "relationships". Any wonder why we are in the mess we're in? Not for me.