The state filed filed 10 lawsuits against 26 people and firms in July 2005 accusing them of making or accepting payments not to bid on properties being auctioned at courthouses in Wake, Durham, Orange and
Johnston counties In the rigged auctions, collusion among the bidders would keep bids artificially low, Defendants paid $57,000 in restitution and $3000 in fines for improperly registering the business.