Wright headed to prison for fraud

RALEIGH -- A Superior Court judge today sentenced former Rep. Thomas Wright to 70 to 95 months in prison after his conviction on three felony counts of fraud.

Wright, who was immediately taken away, was kicked out of the state House last month because of allegations that he used his political sway to obtain a bogus letter from a state official to get a $150,000 bank loan. The loan was for his charitable foundation to build a museum commemorating Wilmington's 1898 race rights.

Wake prosecutors also accused him of pocketing three charitable contributions, totaling $8,900.

Jurors convicted him of fraudulently taking the loan and $7,400 in charitable conditions. They acquitted him of one fraud count.

Before the sentencing, Wright's attorney, Doug Harris, blamed the verdict on the publicity surrounding the case.

"They were prejudiced coming in," Harris said about the jurors.

Harris gave notice that he would appeal Wright's conviction and predicted that the jury's decision would be overturned.

Wright testified last week in the criminal trial, telling jurors that he didn't do anything illegal and suggesting he had been targeted because of political ill will.

Wright was sentenced by Judge Henry Hight, who presided over the trial.

In a statement this afternoon, House Speaker Joe Hackney said Wright had been "a champion for people who often couldn't help themselves, but that doesn't excuse him from having to follow the law."

"I regret that his legislative career ended this way," Hackney said, "but I look forward to moving ahead in our chamber and making sure the people of District 18 get the representation they deserve."