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."

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Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby said today he does not plan to launch an investigation into how the son of former House Speaker Jim Black received contracts to provide pest control at the state's newest three prisons, despite not being the low bidder.

The News & Observer reported Sunday how Black Pest Control had won the business despite other bidders who were willing to do the work for roughly a third of Black's price. Jon Black is the owner of the Charlotte-based company.

Willoughby said he could not launch an investigation because he did not see in the report evidence of a crime, reports Dan Kane.

"At this point, without someone making an accusation that, if true, would be a violation of the law, I'm reluctant to conduct an investigation," he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Duffy, who prosecuted Jim Black on public corruption charges, said he could not comment on the prison contracts. A spokesman for Gov. Mike Easley said he had no comment.

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A company owned by the son of disgraced former House Speaker Jim Black won contracts to provide pest control at three state prisons.

But Black Pest Control was not the lowest bidder.

The 67-year-old company, based in Charlotte, was paid $124,000 for prison construction projects in Bertie and Green Counties, although a Virginia-based business bid $42,000 for the same work.

A project manager for a subcontractor on the construction projects said that two officials with Centex Construction pressured him to hire the company.

Jon Black declined to comment. (N&O)