The Department of Justice has indicted former U.S. Attorney Sam Currin for tax fraud involving offshore trust arrangements.  From the News & Observer:

A protege of former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, Currin is a former U.S. attorney for Raleigh and the Eastern District of North Carolina. He also has been a Superior Court judge and state Republican Party chairman. The charges Currin faces carry maximum punishments totaling 60 years in prison.

The indictment, unsealed Tuesday, alleges that Currin and two co-defendants concocted arrangements so that wealthy U.S. citizens could evade federal income taxes. Currin and the two co-defendants also are accused of preparing fraudulent documents to deceive the IRS….

Currin and Graves had their initial appearances Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Raleigh. Currin’s wife, a former dean of Campbell University’s law school, sat in the front row. Neither of the Currins would talk after court.