Jim Black’s Property Settlement in Corruption Case May Not Add Up

CHARLOTTE (Carolina Journal Online) — Imprisoned former North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black used undeveloped land with a tax value of less than $150,000 to pay off an outstanding $500,000 state fine linked to his conviction on corruption charges, according to Mecklenburg County property records.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Donald W. Stephens approved the transfer of two vacant tracts on Rice Road in Matthews on May 14, stating in a court order that the property “has a fair market value roughly equal to the remaining fines, restitution and court costs to be paid in this case based on previous offers to purchase.”

Property records show the land was deeded over to Wake County public schools the same day, per state law directing such fines to support public schools.