Suspended Williamsburg Co. sheriff, former county supervisor to appear in court Friday

RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Two people accused of participating in a money laundering scheme in Williamsburg County are expected in court Friday.

Suspended Sheriff Stephen R. Gardner and former county supervisor Tiffany Cooks were indicted on public corruption charges by a state grand jury on March 12 for their roles in an alleged scheme to embezzle government funds to pay the sheriff more than his allotted salary.

They are scheduled to appear before Judge Heath Taylor at 10 a.m. Friday at the Richland County Courthouse in Columbia.

According to the South Carolina 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.”

The indictments further allege that Cooks helped Gardner “secretly obtain” more than his legitimate salary through improper payments.

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

Governor McMaster suspended him shortly after the indictment was handed down Thursday. The governor appointed Clemson Wright Jr., a SLED special agent and former Williamsburg Co. deputy, to serve in the interim.

Cooks was charged with conspiracy, misconduct in office, Ethics Act violations, embezzlement, and money laundering.

Assistant Deputy Attorney General Creighton Waters and Assistant Attorney General Savanna Goude are prosecuting the case.

This story is developing and will be updated.