FORMER UNION COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SENTENCED
Balducci Will Serve 18 Months in Federal Prison

CHARLOTTE, NC - Louis Balducci, 36, of Waxhaw, and formerly a deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, (7/06 - 1/3/08) was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Charlotte to 18 months in federal prison as a result of his guilty pleas to charges of: (a) possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone (two counts), and (b) unlawful possession of silencers which were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Today’s announcement is made by U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert, FBI Special Agent in Charge Nathan T. Gray, ATF Special Agent in Charge Zebedee T. Graham, and Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey.

The investigation which led to the filing of the charges lasted from approximately April 2007 to January 2008. Louis Balducci was originally employed as a deputy by the Union County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office in July 2006. In the fall and winter of 2007-08 though still employed by Union County, he had not been working due to medical problems. In January of 2008, having been placed on inactive reserve by the Sheriff’s Office, Balducci was required to turn in his service weapons and badge.

Balducci was arrested by FBI agents in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, in March 2008 and he has remained in federal custody since that time. His employment with Union County ended in early January 2008.

According to official court documents, Balducci possessed with intent to distribute Oxycodone on two separate occasions in January 2008 and illegally possessed silencers in violation of federal firearms statutes.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana Washington handled the prosecution for the government. The Union County Sheriff’s Office assisted in and cooperated fully with the investigation.