Frank Ballance
Encyclopedia
Frank W. Ballance, Jr. American
politician, was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
from 2003 to 2004, representing North Carolina's 1st congressional district
and is a convicted felon.
. He graduated from W. S. Etheridge High School in 1959 and attended North Carolina Central University
, earning a bachelor's degree in 1963 and a law degree in 1965. After receiving his law degree, Ballance briefly served as a faculty member of the South Carolina State University
School of Law before entering private practice in 1966. He served in the North Carolina National Guard Reserve from 1968 to 1971 and married Bernadine Smallwood in 1969; they have three children.
until 1986. In 1988, he was elected to the North Carolina Senate
; that same year, he had served as chair of the Warren County
chapter of the NAACP. Ballance served in the state legislature until 2002, including as deputy president pro tempore from 1997 to 2002. He also served on the Board of Trustees for both North Carolina Central University
and Elizabeth City State University
.
Ballance ran for, and was elected to, the United States House of Representatives
in 2002. After election to Congress, he served as the president of the 108th Congress's Democratic freshman class. Ballance served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Small Business Committee.
On June 8, 2004, Ballance resigned from his seat due to health issues after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis
. Ballance's successor, G. K. Butterfield
, was elected in a special election on July 20.
, mail fraud, and conspiracy
to commit mail fraud with his son, Garey Ballance, a state district judge in Warren County, North Carolina
. Garey Ballance was also charged in the indictment with income tax evasion
. The charges arose after allegations were made that the elder Ballance took $2.3 million in state funds he secured as a State Senator for the John A. Hyman Memorial Youth Foundation and used the cash for the enrichment of himself, his family, and his church.
On November 9, 2004, a plea agreement was reached under which Ballance pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering
. In January 2005, he was disbarred from the practice of law in the state of North Carolina. On October 12, 2005, he was sentenced to four years in prison, two years supervised release, and fined $10,000. He began serving his sentence at the medium-security federal prison
in Butner, North Carolina
, on December 30, 2005. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons
, he was released from prison in June 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 2003 to 2004, representing North Carolina's 1st congressional district
North Carolina's 1st congressional district
North Carolina's 1st congressional district is located mostly in the northeastern part of the state. This area is located on North Carolina's Coastal plain and contains towns such as Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Goldsboro, and New Bern....
and is a convicted felon.
Background
Ballance was born in Windsor, North CarolinaWindsor, North Carolina
Windsor is a town in Bertie County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,283 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bertie County...
. He graduated from W. S. Etheridge High School in 1959 and attended North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
, earning a bachelor's degree in 1963 and a law degree in 1965. After receiving his law degree, Ballance briefly served as a faculty member of the South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University
South Carolina State University is a historically black university located in Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States. It is the only state funded, historically black land-grant institution in South Carolina and is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- Colleges, departments,...
School of Law before entering private practice in 1966. He served in the North Carolina National Guard Reserve from 1968 to 1971 and married Bernadine Smallwood in 1969; they have three children.
Political career
Ballance was first elected to the state legislature in 1983 and served in the North Carolina House of RepresentativesNorth Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
until 1986. In 1988, he was elected to the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
; that same year, he had served as chair of the Warren County
Warren County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,972 people, 7,708 households, and 5,449 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 10,548 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
chapter of the NAACP. Ballance served in the state legislature until 2002, including as deputy president pro tempore from 1997 to 2002. He also served on the Board of Trustees for both North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in the University of North Carolina system, located in Durham, North Carolina, offering programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, professional and doctoral levels....
and Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City State University is a public, historically black college located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in the United States...
.
Ballance ran for, and was elected to, the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 2002. After election to Congress, he served as the president of the 108th Congress's Democratic freshman class. Ballance served on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Small Business Committee.
On June 8, 2004, Ballance resigned from his seat due to health issues after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability...
. Ballance's successor, G. K. Butterfield
G. K. Butterfield
George Kenneth Butterfield, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in the northeastern corner of the state.-Early life and education:...
, was elected in a special election on July 20.
Criminal convictions
On September 2, 2004, Ballance was indicted on federal charges including money launderingMoney laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, mail fraud, and conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
to commit mail fraud with his son, Garey Ballance, a state district judge in Warren County, North Carolina
Warren County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,972 people, 7,708 households, and 5,449 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 10,548 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
. Garey Ballance was also charged in the indictment with income tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
. The charges arose after allegations were made that the elder Ballance took $2.3 million in state funds he secured as a State Senator for the John A. Hyman Memorial Youth Foundation and used the cash for the enrichment of himself, his family, and his church.
On November 9, 2004, a plea agreement was reached under which Ballance pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
. In January 2005, he was disbarred from the practice of law in the state of North Carolina. On October 12, 2005, he was sentenced to four years in prison, two years supervised release, and fined $10,000. He began serving his sentence at the medium-security federal prison
Federal prison
Federal prisons are run by national governments in countries where subdivisions of the country also operate prisons.In the United States federal prisons are operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In Canada the Correctional Service of Canada operates federal prisons. Prison sentences in these...
in Butner, North Carolina
Butner, North Carolina
Butner is a town in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 7,591 at the 2010 census]. Butner was managed by the state of North Carolina from 1947 through 2007. A bill passed by the North Carolina General Assembly incorporating the town was signed by Gov. Mike Easley on...
, on December 30, 2005. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
, he was released from prison in June 2009.