Associated Press
RALEIGH -- Federal investigators want more answers about coastal real estate developments assembled by two brothers with ties to former Gov. Mike Easley and whether anyone made payoffs or gifts to state regulators.
Three Department of Environment and Natural Resources employees have been subpoenaed to appear later this week before a federal grand jury, agency spokeswoman Diana Kees confirmed Tuesday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office is seeking information similar to what it asked for from six other current or former department employees served with subpoenas last month.
"We will continue to cooperate fully with the federal investigation," Kees said in an e-mail.
The subpoenas served Dec. 8 upon Kim Colson, John Dorney and Jeff Schaffer represent the latest in dozens served this year by prosecutors wanting more details about a wide range of activities surrounding Easley, his wife and associates.
Easley, a Democrat who left office 11 months ago, hasn't been charged with any crimes, although a local prosecutor is examining whether he or others broke state laws based on evidence uncovered in a weeklong State Board of Elections hearing in October.
Federal prosecutors want the employees, who could arrive at the Raleigh federal courthouse today at the earliest, to provide any documents on four developments put together by businessmen Gary and Randy Allen.
Easley and his wife, former first lady Mary Easley, bought a lot in one of the developments -- Cannonsgate in Carteret County -- in 2005. Documents show the couple received a $137,000 discount on the lot.
They also want the workers to give them any paperwork showing whether they gave or received remuneration from 19 individuals or businesses, including Easley, the Allens and McQueen Campbell, once Easley's political ally who has said he piloted dozens of private flights for Easley.
A lawyer for Gary Allen said last month the brothers did nothing like that and the projects received their required state permits in a lawful manner.
According to Kees, Dorney is an environmental program supervisor in the state Division of Water Quality. Colson is an assistant director within the division who used to work in its aquifer protection office, and Schaffer is eastern operations supervisor in the department's ecosystem enhancement program.
Gary Allen testified before the elections board Oct. 27 that a $50,000 check he wrote to the state Democratic Party in advance of the 2004 election had no relation to the eventual approval of a state permit he sought for a boat ramp at Oyster Harbour in Brunswick County. Gary Allen has given more than $136,000 to the state party since 2002 and gave $4,000 to in late 2003 to Easley's campaign, according to campaign finance records.
Oyster Harbour is another development identified in the subpoenas. The subpoenas also seek documents from the state employees on the Summerhouse development in Onslow County and Cutter Bay in Pamlico County.
The state elections board in October penalized Easley's campaign committee $100,000 for failing to report dozens of flights Campbell piloted for Easley. A former Easley aide, Ruffin Poole, is scheduled to appear last Thursday before the board after he unsuccessfully tried to quash the board's subpoena in October.
Evidence during the board hearing indicated Poole helped with Easley's campaign fundraising. An attorney for Poole didn't return Tuesday a phone call or e-mail seeking comment.
