Ex-NC lottery head ordered out of prison; convicted under honest services law

Ex-NC lottery official ordered released

RALEIGH, N.C. — A judge has ordered a former North Carolina lottery commissioner convicted in 2006 on five counts of the honest services law to be released from prison.

The U.S. Supreme Court last week struck down parts of that law. The justices found fault with the anti-fraud law in the case of former Enron chief Jeffrey Skilling. Other cases also are being reviewed.

U.S. District Judge James Dever III said Tuesday that Kevin Geddings should be set free as he seeks to have his conviction vacated.

Geddings was found guilty of honest services mail fraud for hiding his financial ties to a company that was expected to bid for North Carolina’s lottery business.

Geddings attorney Jonathan Edelstein says he is gratified the government agreed his client should be released.