CONTACT: 919/856-4046

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday - June 3, 2004

MEDIA ADVISORY

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney Frank D. Whitney advises that arraignment in the case of United States v. Morris Vivona, Jr., No. 5:04-CR-196-1H, has been scheduled for federal court in Greenville, N. C. United States District Judge Malcolm J. Howard will preside.

A Criminal Information filed by the United States Attorney's Office on June 3, 2004, charged Vivona with obstruction of justice in connection with the federal grand jury investigation of the Meg Scott Phipps Campaign 2000 for Commissioner of Agriculture. If convicted, he could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000.00, and a supervised release term of three years.

Details of the arraignment are as follows:

WHAT: Arraignment

WHEN: Monday - June 7, 2004

TIME: 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: United States Courthouse

Third Floor

201 South Evans Street

Greenville, N. C.

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News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney's web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.