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Retired agent Charles “Chuck” Stuber served in the FBI for 28 years. His first assignment was to the Denver FBI Office where he worked white collar crime, violent crimes, fugitives and joined SWAT.
He was the case agent on three substantial Ponzi scheme cases, including the largest investment fraud case in Colorado history.
The investigation targeted James Douglas Donahue, who defrauded over 2,000 investors out of $316 million.
After a transfer to the Washington Field Office (WFO), Chuck was assigned to the U.S. House of Representatives Bank Task Force, investigating Members of Congress for misusing their accounts at the House Bank which led to the prosecution and conviction of former U.S. House of Representatives Member Donald “Buz” Lukens for bribery and an Ohio businessman for paying bribes to Lukens.
Chuck received an Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for his work on the House Bank case.
Based on his successes, Chuck received a specialty transfer to the Charlotte FBI Division, Raleigh Resident Agency, to start a public corruption program.
In this episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, Chuck reviews his investigation of North Carolina Speaker of the House Jim Black for bribery.
At the time, NC Speaker Jim Black was serving his eleventh term in the House of Representatives and was the most powerful politician in the state.
While assigned to the Raleigh RA, Chuck investigated and prosecuted numerous public officials, including U.S. Congressman Frank Balance, North Carolina (NC) District Court Judge Garey Balance, NC House of Representatives Member Michael Decker, NC Governor Mike Easley, and former U.S. Senator and Presidential Candidate John Edwards.
He was also a hostage negotiator in the Charlotte Division and was involved in several cases, resulting in the release of hostages and kidnap victims.
Upon retiring from the FBI, Chuck took a position as the Chief Investigator for the NC State Board of Elections (NCSBE). In that position, he handled many significant election matters and selected and set up an investigative team for the NCSBE.
Chuck currently is a partner with SRS Consulting Services, LLC, consulting on white collar crime and corruption cases, forensic accounting matters, and other types of investigations. He also teaches at Wake Technical Community College in both the Criminal Justice and Accounting Programs.
Special Agent (Retired)
Chales Stuber
9/1985 – 5/2014
“When we were working this case, I don’t know how many times people told us you will never touch Jim Black. He’s untouchable. He’s too powerful.”—Retired Agent Charles Stuber
The following are links to articles about the investigation and conviction of NC Speaker Jim Black for public corruption:
WRAL – 2/5/2003: Black, Morgan Elected Co-Speakers Of State House
WRAL – 7/11/2007: Black Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison
News Observer: Decker Admits Conspiracy in $50,000 Deal to Help Black
News Observer: Money Source for Black Indicted
Indy Week – 8/16/2006: Black day at the IHOP
Listen to other FBI Retired Case File Review episodes about public corruption cases here.
RE Speaker Jim Black- “Why would he plead guilty” so soon after he was indicted? Only professional law enforcement officials would respond in the way these two ex-FBI’ers did.
The rest of us would say “Because Black knew he did 47 more crimes for each one listed.”
Jerri impresses the heck outta me, and I can’t be the only one.
Thank you for your kind words. I should post another case review with Chuck Stuber before the end of the year. Stay tuned.