The old ball and chain.

• Position: Eastern - Stephen LaRoque's financial fraud case

Mixing love and money might cost former state Rep. Stephen LaRoque his freedom The Kinston Republican resigned from the General Assembly in July after federal prosecutors charged him with eight counts of financial fraud related to two nonprofits he operated. The indictment claims he took money from his East Carolina Development Co. and Piedmont Development Co.--which are both based in Kinston and disburse U.S. Department of Agriculture loans to small, rural businesses--and funneled it through his management company to make illegal purchases. The largest alleged transgression? A $200,000 stake in a Greenville ice-skating rink his wife was purchasing. LaRoque claims it was a legitimate loan from his employer, but prosecutors call it fraud. They also say he took money to help buy a rental home, an ice resurfacer and jewelry, while paying himself a handsome six-figure salary despite a relatively small loan portfolio. LaRoque's attorney, Joe Cheshire, defended his client in a statement. "The [nonprofit] corporations' work provided monies that led to new business, and led to hundreds of jobs for North Carolinians who would, otherwise, have been unemployed." LaRoque resigned from the House because, he says, he didn't want to be a distraction.

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