Who deposited the $500,000 checks?

In court today, an official with First Citizens Bank said that two checks from lobbyist Don Beason to former House Speaker Jim Black's accounts were deposited in its Five Points branch.

But neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys knew who deposited the checks.

Gustavo Schmidt, a compliance officer with the bank, said that the first check was deposited at 4:58 p.m.on Thursday, June 29, 2000, and the second at 9:48 a.m. on Thursday, July 13.

That appeared to rule out Black's campaign treasurer, Virginia Kelly, who worked out of his Charlotte optometric practice. But neither Black nor Kelly recognized the handwriting on the deposit slip.

The bank, at 2001 Fairview Road, was not far from Beason's house at 2913 Fairview. During legislative sessions, Black stayed in a condominium in Bishop's Park off Glenwood Ave., which would be about as close to the bank's Cameron Village branch.

Black's attorney, Ken Bell, said the check was likely deposited by someone in his Raleigh office.

Former House Speaker Jim Black has finished testifying in his sentencing hearing in state court in Raleigh.

Virginia Kelly, who worked for Black's optometry practice and as treasurer of his campaign, testified that campaign donations were left in a drawer at her office and she would drop them off at the First Citizens Bank in downtown Charlotte.

Kelly said she would write checks to other candidates at the direction of Black or Meredith Norris, who worked in his legislative office in Raleigh.

Read more after the jump.

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