A federal jury in Charlotte, North Carolina has convicted Greg E. Lindberg, founder and chairman of multinational investment company Eli Global LLC, and his consultant John D. Gray, for their involvement in a bribery scheme. The conviction came after a retrial that focused on the duo's orchestration of improper campaign contributions and manipulation of independent expenditure accounts.
Court documents and trial evidence reveal that from April 2017 to August 2018, Lindberg and Gray initiated a bribery scheme with the aim of influencing the Commissioner of Insurance (Commissioner) at the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI). Their objective was to secure favorable action for Lindberg’s other company, Global Bankers Insurance Group (GBIG).
The two offered millions in campaign contributions and other incentives to the Commissioner in exchange for removing NCDOI’s Senior Deputy Commissioner who was overseeing GBIG's regulation and periodic examination. The pair held multiple meetings with the Commissioner, third co-defendant Robert Cannon Hayes, and others to discuss their request for personnel change at NCDOI.
To mask their activities, Lindberg set up two corporate entities designed to form independent expenditure committees supporting the Commissioner’s re-election campaign. These entities were funded with $1.5 million as promised to the Commissioner. Furthermore, under Lindberg’s and Gray’s guidance, Hayes transferred $250,000 from funds previously contributed by Lindberg to a North Carolina state party to the Commissioner’s re-election campaign.
The jury found Lindberg and Gray guilty of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. They now face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A sentencing date is yet to be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines among other statutory factors.
Hayes had earlier pleaded guilty in October 2019 for making false statements to the FBI.
The announcement about these convictions was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office, which also conducted the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney William Gullotta of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lawrence Cameron and Dana Washington for the Western District of North Carolina.