Former SCSU Chairman and Cohort Face More Charges in Federal Kickback Case On Thursday, November 7th, new criminal charges were filed in the federal kickback case against Jonathan Pinson and Eric Robinson, some in connection with Columbia’s multimillion dollar Village at River’s Edge development. The Columbia branch of the US Attorney’s Office is now charging Pinson with 51 counts of various kinds of fraud and illegal activities, including federal kickback charges, and Robinson with 11 counts of federal kickback fraud and illegal … [Read more...]
Three More Men Plead Guilty in Jonathan Pinson Federal Kickback Case
November 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Former SC State Trustees Plead Guilty in Federal Kickback Charges Related to Jonathan Pinson’s Case Three men have pleaded guilty to charges related to Jonathan Pinson’s federal kickback trial. The men – Lancelot Wright, Robert Williams, and Phillip Mims – pleaded guilty on Wednesday, November 6th, in a federal court in Charleston, SC. Prosecutors allege that the three falsified invoices and used loans for purposes other than what they were intended for, part of which was to purchase land in Jonathan Pinson’s federal … [Read more...]
Federal Judge Denies Brett Parker’s New Trial Request
November 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Brett Parker and Associate’s Gambling Case Will Not Receive a New Trial On Tuesday, November 5th, a federal judge denied a request for Brett Parker and his business associates, his father Jack Parker and Douglas E. Taylor. In September, the three men were found guilty of running an illegal gambling operation. Brett Parker’s attorneys asked for a new trial in the wake of allegations against a key witness for the prosecution, who is now undergoing his own federal fraud trial. US District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie filed a 19-page order on … [Read more...]
Blythewood Businesswoman Faces Breach of Trust Charges
November 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Businesswoman in Blythewood, SC Faces Breach of Trust Charges Involving State Contract Just two weeks prior, New Venue Technologies was honored for being one of the top performing businesses in South Carolina; as of Friday, November 1st, the company’s president is in jail on charges of breach of trust for stealing state money. The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) arrested Terris Shirelle Riley, 39, of Blythewood on breach of trust charges – specifically, breach of trust with fraudulent intent involving $10,000 or more. The maximum … [Read more...]
Carolinas Mortgage Fraud Leader Sentenced to 6 Months, $2 Million Fine
October 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Mortgage Fraud Ringleader Receives 6 Months in Prison and $2 Million Fine The ringleader of one of the biggest mortgage fraud schemes in the Carolinas was sentenced on Thursday, October 17th, to 6 months in prison with a $2 million fine. Mark Dain, CEO of Total Realty Management, must pay TD Bank (formerly Carolina First) in Myrtle Beach for seven fraudulent loans his company obtained for Georgetown residents of the Craven’s Grant neighborhood. The site along Winyah Bay was supposed to have 292 homes, but none of the lots were developed and … [Read more...]
Investment Manager in Jail for Securities Fraud Released After 5 Days
October 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Notorious Investment Firm Manager Released from Jail After 5 Days Served for Securities Fraud Former Investment Firm Manager Arthur Field, who pleaded guilty to securities fraud charges in May, was released from jail a mere five days after he reported for his sentence. On Wednesday, October 16th, 60-year-old Field was released from prison after the state attorney general filed a motion asking the court to reconsider Field’s securities fraudsentence. Field began dissolving his firm in 2008, and shortly thereafter became the target of … [Read more...]
West Columbia Police Officer Arrested on Federal Sex Crime Charges
October 18, 2013 by
West Columbia Police Officer Fired, Arrested on Federal Sex Crime Charges A former police officer for West Columbia has been fired, and arrested on federal sex crime charges for sending explicit pictures of himself to a 13-year-old girl in Iowa. Andrew Alan Haney, 30, has been charged with interstate commerce of obscene material to a person under 16. He will appear in a Richland Count courtroom on Thursday, October 10th. A criminal complaint from the Southern District of Iowa alleged that Haney was involved in chatting with a 13 year old … [Read more...]
8 Arrested in Felony Lane Gang Case
October 16, 2013 by
8 Members of Felony Lane Gang Arrested on Criminal Charges, More Could Be Extradited from Florida On Tuesday, October 8th, Sheriff Leon Lott and SLED announced that, so far, eight members of the notorious Felony Lane Gang have been arrested on criminal charges. The group is comprised of several men and women, based in Florida, who have been charged with breaking into vehicles, stealing checks, IDs, and credit and debit cards. They then take stolen checks to bank drive-thrus, disguised as the victim, and take money out of the victim’s … [Read more...]
Elderly Drug Mule Pleads Guilty in Federal Conspiracy Case
October 15, 2013 by
89-Year-Old Caught Smuggling Drugs Pleads Guilty in Larger Federal Conspiracy Case On Tuesday, October 8th, in a move that will spare him from standing trial, an 89-year-old who worked as a drug mule for one of the most notorious Mexican drug cartels has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges. Leo Sharp, from Michigan City, Indiana, appeared in front of the court just a week before his official trial was set to begin. He admitted his involvement in a smuggling operation, bringing 228 pounds of cocaine across the country for Mexico’s … [Read more...]
Charity Fraud Case Starts in Ohio
October 14, 2013 by
Fugitive Who Created $100 Million Charity Fraud Scheme Goes to Trial A man who reportedly masterminded a $100 million multi-state charity fraud scheme is going on trial in Ohio on Monday, October 7th. The 67-year-old defendant reportedly created a charity for Navy veterans, but used the charity for his own purposes. In court, the defendant refers to himself as Bobby Thompson, but authorities have identified him as John Donald Cody, a Harvard-trained lawyer and former military intelligence officer. Assistant Ohio Attorney Brad Tammaro … [Read more...]
