A new story out from the Associated Press picks up the thread of contributions to North Carolina politicians by an Oklahoma sweepstakes gambling magnate. The state’s Attorney General says the funds have been traced to an illegal gambling operation.

The story of the contributions seemed to be building last summer after reports that the sums delivered to NC politicians put the effort by the sweepstakes gambling industry at the top of the list for contributions to the North Carolina General Assembly during the 2012 election cycle.

The contributions included tens of thousands sent to Governor Pat McCrory, House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger.

Last month, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt finalized a separate agreement in which Burns agreed to forfeit $3.5 million from bank accounts seized as part of the investigation. According to Pruitt, the money came directly from the “laundered proceeds” of Burns’ sweepstakes software company, International Internet Technologies. Court filings reviewed by The Associated Press show $1 million of that forfeited money came from a checking account in the name of the Chase Burns Trust — the same account used to send political donations to the campaigns of North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, state House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate leader Phil Berger, among others.

Days before they were replaced by McCrory, members of the State Board of Elections said they wanted to investigate the contributions. According to today’s AP story, the review of the contributions could be wrapped up by the end of the year.

BND— AG: Checks to NC pols came from illegal gambling

We’ll have comments and updates as they come in.

Previously in The Mercury

• Report says indicted internet gambling operator top NCGA donor

• McCrory received $70,000 from donors linked to sweepstakes gambling

• Blank checks at the heart of sweepstakes scandal

• Sweepstakes donations may have been bundled

• Elections officials call for investigation of $235,000 in sweepstakes donations

Here’s the full Democracy NC report from earlier this year.

2013 Democracy NC report on NCGA contributions from Chase Burns by CarolinaMercury