State Rep. Thomas Wright, D-New Hanover, was indicted in connection with allegedly illegal campaign contributions and fraudulent loans.

  1. Wright Gets More Than 5 Years in Prison for Fraud

    Former state Rep. Thomas Wright was sentenced Monday to 70 to 95 months in prison after a jury convicted him of three counts of fraud.

    1. Apr. 7, 2008
  2. No Verdict in Ex-Lawmaker's Fraud Case

    Prosecutors brought fraud charges against former Rep. Thomas Wright without any legitimate evidence to prove their case, his attorney said Friday, comparing his client's case to the biblical fight between David and Goliath.

    1. Apr. 4, 2008
  3. Lobbyists: Donations Not Gifts to Wright

    Witnesses testified Wednesday about corporate donations to a nonprofit that wound up in the former lawmaker's personal account.

    1. Apr. 2, 2008
  4. Witnesses Detail $150,000 Loan to Wright

    A former state official and a bank loan officer testify about a 2002 transaction that prosecutors say amounted to fraud.

    1. Apr. 1, 2008
  5. Defense Paints Expelled Lawmaker as Compassionate, Distracted

    The second day of the Wilmington Democrat's trial on four felony fraud charges opened in a Wake County courtroom Tuesday.

    1. Apr. 1, 2008
  6. Trial Opens for State Ex-Rep. Accused of Fraud, Pocketing Contributions

    Prosecutors say former Rep. Thomas Wright bilked a bank and several corporate donors out of thousand of dollars as part of a scheme to enrich himself.

    1. Apr. 1, 2008
  7. Wright Expelled From House

    State House members voted overwhelmingly Thursday to expel state Rep. Thomas Wright for ethical misconduct – the first time in more than a century legislators have removed a sitting lawmaker from office.

    1. Mar. 21, 2008
  8. Lawmakers Regret Need for Special Session

    Legislators will meet in Raleigh Thursday to mete out punishment for state Rep. Thomas Wright on ethics violations. Wright has refused to step down, saying voters should decide his fate.

    1. Mar. 20, 2008
  9. Special Session on Wright Set

    Gov. Mike Easley on Tuesday called a special legislative session next week to discipline embattled state Rep. Thomas Wright.

    1. Mar. 11, 2008
  10. Panel: Wright Should Be Expelled for Misconduct

    The full House will have to vote to remove embattled Wilmington lawmaker Thomas Wright from office.

    1. Mar. 7, 2008
  11. Witnesses: Wright Took Nonprofit Money, Didn't Report Contributions

    Two witnesses told a legislative panel Wednesday that state Rep. Thomas pocketed corporate donations to a foundation he directs and failed to report numerous campaign contributions.

    1. Mar. 5, 2008
  12. Wright's Defense Again Plays Race Card

    A defense attorney for embattled state Rep. Thomas Wright continued to argue Tuesday that an ethics hearing for the lawmaker was racially biased.

    1. Mar. 4, 2008
  13. Defense: Wright Ethics Hearing 'Jim Crow Proceeding'

    The Legislative Ethics Panel considering ethical misconduct allegations against state Rep. Thomas Wright is racially biased, Wright's attorney argued Monday.

    1. Mar. 3, 2008
  14. Judge Stymies Wright's Bid to Head Off Ethics Hearing

    A judge on Thursday refused to stop a legislative committee from meeting next week to review allegations of misconduct against a Wilmington lawmaker.

    1. Feb. 28, 2008
  15. Wright Tries to Halt Ethics Hearing

    Rep. Thomas Wright of Wilmington asked a court to block the hearing, scheduled for next week.

    1. Feb. 27, 2008
  16. Lawmaker's Fraud Trial Delayed

    A judge on Monday postponed a criminal trial for state Rep. Thomas Wright. Wright was indicted in December on six felony charges for his handling of more than $350,000 in campaign donations, loans and charitable money.

    1. Feb. 26, 2008
  17. Defense: Prosecutors Play Politics With Wright's Trial

    A state lawmaker wants to delay his trial on fraud and obstruction of justice charges, saying the case is being expedited because of politics.

    1. Jan. 29, 2008
  18. Probable Cause Found That Wright Broke Ethics Rules

    A panel of state lawmakers on Wednesday found probable cause to believe that Rep. Thomas Wright took part in campaign finance and loan fraud in violation of legislative ethics rules.

    1. Jan. 9, 2008
  19. Wright Pleads Not Guilty to Wrongly Getting, Using $350,000

    Rep. Thomas Wright pleaded not guilty Friday to six felony charges that accuse him of illegally obtaining or misusing more than $350,000 in campaign donations, loans and charitable money.

    1. Jan. 4, 2008
  20. Wright Appears in Court Without Attorney

    Indicted state Rep. Thomas Wright appeared in a Wake County courtroom Monday morning, but a judge was miffed that his attorney didn't show up with him.

    1. Dec. 31, 2007
  21. Wright Released on Bond After Surrender

    Indicted state Rep. Thomas Wright surrendered to authorities in Raleigh on Friday and was released on bond.

    1. Dec. 14, 2007
  22. Ethics Committee to Proceed Against Wright

    State lawmakers said Wednesday that they plan to proceed with ethics hearings into a charge against an indicted Wilmington legislator.

    1. Dec. 12, 2007
  23. Special Legislative Session Possible to Discipline Wright

    State House Speaker Joe Hackney said Tuesday that a special legislative session might be necessary to consider possible disciplinary action against an indicted Wilmington lawmaker.

    1. Dec. 12, 2007
  24. State Lawmaker Indicted on 6 Charges

    State Rep. Thomas Wright was indicted Monday in connection with unreported campaign donations and two loans, authorities said.

    1. Dec. 10, 2007
  25. Embattled Lawmaker's Loan Draws Scrutiny

    In the latest criminal investigation involving an embattled state lawmaker, authorities last week seized bank records related to a 2001 loan that they said never wound up with a nonprofit organization.

    1. Nov. 15, 2007
  26. Ethics Panel to Review Lawmaker's Reimbursements

    House Speaker Joe Hackney on Monday called for a review of travel reimbursements paid to an embattled state lawmaker.

    1. Oct. 1, 2007
  27. SBI Looks Into Finances of Lawmaker's Nonprofit

    A state lawmaker already is under investigation for possible campaign finance violations is also being investigated in connection with a fraudulent real estate deal.

    1. Aug. 21, 2007
  28. Elections Board Refers Wright Findings to DA

    The State Board of Elections has voted unanimously to hand over its findings in its investigation of state Rep. Thomas Wright to the Wake County district attorney.

    1. May 15, 2007
  29. Review of Campaign Reports Shows $119,000 Missing

    A state lawmaker under investigation by for campaign finance irregularities might have to account for as much as $119,000 in contributions not reported to state elections officials.

    1. Mar 30, 2007
  30. New Elections Probe Looks at Black Ally

    Rep. Thomas Wright is the target of an inquiry into the filing of reports about campaign contributions.

    1. Mar 9, 2007