RALEIGH, N.C. — Friends close to former First District Rep. Frank Ballance suspect the well-known lawmaker will soon face criminal charges.

Various sources have told WRAL that people very close to Ballance have been contacting high-level Democrats across the state. They have told the Democrats that they believe federal indictments against Ballance and possibly others are "imminent."

Frank Ballance suddenly resigned from Congress back in June, citing health problems. He also cited stress from the ongoing federal investigation in the substance abuse counseling center he founded in Warrenton.

The Hyman Foundation received thousands of dollars in taxpayer money while Ballance was a state lawmaker and distributed grants to many of his family and friends. The state auditor said the foundation was riddled with conflict of interest.

WRAL has found that the federal grand jury is meeting Thursday, but it is impossible to predict what if anything they will decide on the case. The U.S. Attorney General's Office and FBI are not commenting about the case.