SBI investigating Black Pest Control

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:37:27 -0500

The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into Jon Black.

Investigators have opened an inquiry into how the son of former House Speaker Jim Black received contracts to provide pest control at three state prisons, Dan Kane reports.

The inquiry comes after The News & Observer reported last month that Black Pest Control, a Charlotte-based company, had won the work despite charging roughly three times more for the work than the low bidder.

George Zaborowski, a former project manager for a subcontractor at two of the prisons told The N&O that he was ordered to hire Black Pest Control at its price to satisfy a state lawmaker whose vote was critical for the prisons' construction.

Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby initially saw no reason to look into the contracts. But on Thursday, he confirmed that he wanted the SBI to conduct a "preliminary inquiry."

"Some of the matters that were publicly reported were things that called into question the bidding process," Willoughby said. "I felt like I needed a better understanding of what had gone on in order to make an informed decision about the necessity of a criminal investigation."

More after the jump.

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SBI investigating Black Pest Control