Feds probe former United Way chief

Gloria Pace King,United Way of Central Carolinas | May 1, 2009

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Officials at United Way of Central Carolinas say Gloria Pace King, its ousted CEO, is under investigation by a federal grand jury, the Charlotte Observer reported April 29.

Court documents show the Charlotte-based agency received a federal grand jury subpoena Feb. 9 from the local U.S. Attorney's Office and from the IRS as part of a criminal investigation, the newspaper said.

It said United Way officials say King is the target of the investigation and accuse her of billing the agency tens of thousands of dollars in personal expenses.

King denies the allegations, is suing the organization for wrongful termination and for breaching an employment contract, and aims to recoup at least $300,000 remaining on her contract and her supplemental pension, the newspaper said.

It said United Way says no other current or former agency personnel or board members are targets of the federal subpoena.

Among the expenses deemed personal by United Way, the newspaper said, are $30,000 worth of tickets to Carolina Panthers football games, meals at expensive restaurants, travel expenses incurred by family members and $5,000 for a biography of King.

In a separate story, the Observer reported May 1 that Charles Devernie Harrison, who wrote the biography of King, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to defrauding elderly investors out of $11 million.

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