Lindberg’s 2nd Bribery Trial Delayed Until Spring

As expected, a federal judge has postponed Greg Lindberg’s second trial on bribery charges until sometime next spring.

Lindberg was convicted in 2020 of attempting to bribe North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey in return for allowing lower reserve levels and other favorable treatment for his insurance companies. His conviction was overturned in 2022 due to what an appeals court said was faulty jury instructions.

Lindberg’s retrial was set for November, but now won’t happen until April or May, US District Judge Max Cogburn said in his Oct. 19 order. The reason: Lindberg’s co-defendant John Gray has a new legal team, which needs time to prepare.

“…Failure to grant such a continuance would deny counsel for defendant the reasonable time necessary for effective preparation, taking into account the exercise of due diligence,” the judge wrote. “Moreover, the ends of justice served by granting such continuance outweigh the best interests of the public and Defendant in a speedy trial. This matter is continued, and the time is excluded.”

Lindberg, a well-known political donor to Democrats and Republicans, at one time controlled a number of insurance companies based in North Carolina. Those included Colorado Bankers Life Insurance, and Bankers Life Insurance Co.

Regulators have said that Lindberg siphoned millions of dollars from some of his insurance companies, investing the assets in his other companies, but leaving the insurers in dire condition and unable to pay policyholders. In 2022, a judge ordered Lindberg to give up control of the companies.