Greg E. Lindberg, Public Corruption, Bribery, North Carolina 2023

A federal jury in Charlotte, North Carolina has convicted the founder and chairman of a multinational investment company, Greg E. Lindberg, 49, of Durham, North Carolina, and his consultant, John D. Gray, 69, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, of public corruption and bribery charges.

The jury delivered the verdict after an approximately three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr.

Lindberg, the founder and chairman of Eli Global LLC (Eli Global) and the owner of Global Bankers Insurance Group (GBIG), and Gray were convicted of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.

A third co-defendant, Eli Global executive John V. Palermo, 64, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, was acquitted by the jury. A fourth co-defendant, Robert Cannon Hayes, 74, of Concord, North Carolina, previously pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI.

The evidence presented at trial established that Lindberg, Gray and Hayes engaged in a bribery scheme involving independent expenditure accounts and improper campaign contributions for the purpose of causing the Commissioner of Insurance to take official action favorable to Lindberg’s company, GBIG.

The defendants held numerous in-person meetings at different locations, including in Statesville, North Carolina, and had telephonic and other communications with each other, and with Hayes, to discuss Lindberg’s request for the removal of NCDOI’s Senior Deputy Commissioner, who was responsible for overseeing regulation and the periodic examination of GBIG.

The conviction of Lindberg and Gray serves as a reminder that public corruption will not be tolerated and that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable.

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