Williamsburg County sheriff, former county supervisor indicted on public corruption charges

 WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) — A state grand jury has indicted two Williamsburg County elected officials in connection with a public corruption investigation, the attorney general’s office announced Wednesday.

Sheriff Stephen R. Gardner and the former county Supervisor, Tiffany Cooks, were charged for their roles in an alleged scheme to embezzle government funds.

Gardner was indicted on counts of criminal conspiracy, misconduct in office, Ethics Act violations, acceptance of rebates or extra compensation, and money laundering.

Cooks was indicted on counts of criminal conspiracy, misconduct in office, Ethics Act violations, embezzlement, and money laundering.

According to the attorney general’s office, Gardner and Cooks participated in a scheme to “improperly pay thousands of dollars of government funds to Gardner, and avoid taxes or withholdings on the amounts paid, by routing the government money to Gardner under the guise of checks written to a third party.”

Gardner was suspended by Governor Henry McMaster’s office on Thursday after the indictment was handed down. The governor appointed Clemson Wright Jr. to serve in the interim.

The case was investigated by the state grand jury in partnership with SLED and the attorney general’s office.

This story is breaking and may be updated.