CORRUPTION UPDATE IN RURAL SOUTH CAROLINA TOWN …
|| By FITSNEWS || The town of Swansea, S.C. is staring down a major scandal.
Specifically, the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is said to be investigating allegations of embezzlement in its personnel office.
According to our sources, only two people in the rural Lexington County town collect money – mayor Ray Spires and acting town clerk Lorraine Culler.
Culler is a $70,000-a-year town employee and a board member of the Bull Swamp Rural Water development. According to our sources, she has recently been placed on paid administrative leave by the town as a result of the allegations.
According to a source close to Swansea police chief Clif Hayes, Culler has made statements indicating the embezzlement – which involved tens of thousands of dollars (and the provision of free city water services) – involved multiple people.
It’s also said to be directly linked to this exclusive report published by FITS back in November 2013 – in which free water was allegedly provided to select citizens who agreed to cast their votes for Spires’ spellcheck deficient mayoral campaign.
The town’s scandal reportedly stretches beyond its borders, too.
Swansea is presently in charge of collecting water bills for the rural town of North, S.C. via a contract negotiated by Swansea’s utilities manager, Rick Bryan – who now serves similar positions with the Bull Swamp Rural Water department and the town of North.
Bryan, incidentally, was fined (.pdf here) by the S.C. Ethics Commission (SCSEC) last year for using public funds to pay for a family vacation. He received a warning at the time instructing him “not to use his official employment to obtain an economic interest for himself or a business with which he is associated.”
SLED officials didn’t immediately acknowledge the probe – but sources close to the agency confirmed an investigation in Swansea was underway.
Three town council members in Swansea have resigned in recent years “over discrepancies (regarding) town funds and unpaid bills in the water department,” according to our sources.
Ah, small town South Carolina …
98 comments
Will, inquire about unpaid legal services for the water board in an amount in excess of $ 300,000 — this was about six years ago.
I’m against waterboarding.Everyone should be,no matter the cost.
‘Everyone should be’ ….. waterboarded(?)
Waterboard the water board. I WANT A CONFESSION!!!!!
My suggestions (all rejected) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff included playing certain theme songs to get those Iraqis and Afghanis out of their caves. A few: Chips/Gilligan’s Island/Andy Griffith Show Everyone has at least one theme song that would drive you insane .
It just occurred to me: Force a prisoner to sit down and attempt a conversation with the GrandTango – and then write a report..!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCjZwCCycCc
My man Shifty…all Haley had to do was play this video at the state house and the damn flag would have been a NON issue!
pretty good…
Hell, that’s only money. I am not interested in this story unless they fly the Confederate flag or T-rav is shacking up with his girl friend at the posh downtown hotel in Swansea.
And I just don’t want any ole story, I want something ‘tragic’ and ‘horrific.”
Perhaps this week we’ll get ‘majestic’ and ‘epic’…..
Sounds good, I will keep my computer primed.
For some reason I can not remember the name of the town I was asked to perorm special consulting work for, but it sounds like Swansea. The deal was going down when a “friendly contact” asked me to submit a proposal for services. I saw that there was a time frame where I thought (without having any info) the work could be completed between 6 – 9 months. The contact gave me a file stuffed with documents to assist me with preparing my proposal. Then several things came about —
(1) -The 2 people in the town I needed to deal with were very uncooperative
(2) – DHEC refused to provide me with certain rules and regulations that I needed because I “was not authorized to see them”. unless the town accepted my proposal, but could I submit a proposal without knowing what was involved?
(3) -Included in the folder were all of the documents and letters between the attorney and the town, which is how I discovered that the town owed him over $ 300,000 (were these intended for me to see?)
(4) -My contact told me that when I submitted my bid for services I was guaranteed to get approved. I asked who was I bidding against? He said so far no one – they all refused to submit a proposal, and he and some others were desperate to get some resolution.
(5) – I returned the folder and thanked him for the offer and help (he was sincere in getting something done, and I saw that he was frustrated about the town).
(6) – After investing 3 – 4 days of time, I sensed that there was something “hinky” between the town and the DHEC folks I talked to. If I remember which town it was I’ll post it.
This little tale of mine is only one of hundreds each year where good things could come about but folks are stymied by road blocks at state agencies by employees who have their agenda.
“there was something “hinky” between the town and the DHEC folks I talked to.”
Or kinky?
— could be
In my work I’ve heard many such anecdotal horror stories about most Lexington county cities It is like a hotbed of bad governance. never heard anything positive about LE either.
Shifty: Document that crap man! If you don’t want to pursue it, then forward the info to me. I’ll publicly lambast any of them.
I ain’t scurred.
That was probably 7 – 8 years ago. But thanks for the offer.
The only surprising things about this is that Swansea has a $70,000 a year employee, That someone from there was smart enough to figure out how to pull this off, and that these two suspects don’t have the same last name.
They have other employees making almost as much. Great job if you are the Mayors buddies.
I hope everyone reads that .pdf link.
I wonder how many other ‘respondents’ get a slap on the wrist because they were ignorant of the ethics law?
Unfortunately, most, most likely, under Nikki’s newby board members.
And, since I don’t want to re-read, did Bryan get a $19,000 raise over
the North deal and another $19,000 raise over the BSRW deal?
Was Swansea town attorney Lea Moody, who was drawing up the contracts, also ignorant of the ethics law and not advising the city of the violations and/or preventing them?
He was working on his own for Bull Swamp using Swansea’s equipment paying $75.00 a month to rent it and he was on Swansea’s time too. He’s making over $100,000 plus a year now. Not bad.
Town attorney Moody? Don’t think ethics bother her too much.
Lea Moody -another USC trustee with fingers in the cookie jar?
The Ethics Commission is in place for one reason. To shield the powerful when they are caught and to punish the weak when they are caught. The weak are punished so that the big boys can take a pass…it makes the commissions average look a lot better than it really is.
You just know there are a lot of Confederate flags flying in the pineywood yards of that area of Lexington County.
And is there a single honest public employee in Lexington County?
There’s plenty of them
Sick as hell from my ‘treatments’ but I sure enjoyed your comments today. Thanks for putting a smile on this old face today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6NVnKFyY24
What is the difference between the Cockroaches in the State House and the Cockroaches in Swansea?
About 21 miles give or take a few 1,000 feet
97$PERHOUR I saw the paycheck that said $7798@ds9
5
http://www.AuthorityGlobalworkworldHosts/skills/help...
You’re really the GrandTurnip — aren’t you?
And the cockroach in the State treasurer, Curtis Loftis..”.Loftis hired friend to represent SC. ” Put a lot of money in his pockets… 9 million paid to the attorneys. Is money also going to Loftis as well? What a gross man, who cannot be trusted. Loftis must resign.. A racist with the brain of a roach.
how does a shit hole little town like swansea even come up with a tax base to pay anyone 70k a year?
Steal it from water payments, grant money, cash events in the town. Don’t pay the state, this was the Town busted a few years back for $500,000 owed to the state.
Traffic fines paid directly to cops on the side of the road.
And they get to keep the money? Is this a known fact?
I forget the details but have read about it. They (towns) make the violation one against a town ordinance and part of the deal for cash is to keep any record away from the car insurance companies. It’s been in the news.
They did that for a while but when another town got in trouble over it they stopped that it was a $154 fine, now it’s speed traps!
The use of the town ordinance eliminates the mandate of the state assessments. It has nothing to do with cash being required. You have your apples and oranges in the same basket. The two issues are similar but separate.
Town ordinances removes the requirement for the state to receive assessments. You pay a higher fine and there is no insurance increase since the violation is not reported and there are no points placed against your license. It is a legal, but in my opinion unethical, way for the town to avoid sharing money with the state.
The other has to do with the local government keeping money that they are legally required to send to the state. Sometimes, local government employees embezzle that money by cooking the books to show that sent the money to the state when they actually took it for themselves.
The state does a poor job of tracking that money and conducting audits so this activity could go unnoticed for years before it is discovered.
It wasn’t money paid to the cops on the side of the road. It was the percentage of money from traffic fines that are required by law to be sent to the state (assessments). Swansea like many other counties and towns often fail to send that money to the state. If the state could collect that money it could be used for multiple projects, like road improvements.
There has been no accusations that the police department was involved in the corruption.
The Confederate Flag did it.
People were selling battle flags on 321 outside Swansea for 15 dollars on the way home from work.
I just read the PDF. It is funny how these people were all transparent. They told everyone what was going on, what it meant and what the cost was.
Now, consider what goes on in government everyday. The underhanded lying, cheating and stealing that is commonplace.
Swansea and that crowd of everyday average people are penalized. The rich and powerful that direct millions to themselves and their cronies are not touched by the law.
There you have it. SC in a nutshell.
Too true. But it’s no secret. No one with power does a thing to stop it. AG Wilson? Where is he?
Running for Governor, which means he will not do one thing to piss anyone off!
Bullshit. He pissed off Obama, Holder and the Gay rights lobby. It’s THE PEOPLE of SC who are standing and cheering. And it’s why you ignorant Democrats HATE him.
I admire the way Wilson has handled himself. He took on some very hateful, vengeful entities, and put them in their place. I say BRAVO.
I don’t think Holder, Obama or the gay rights lobby were ever going to vote for Wilson. He pisses them off an a way to impress the base. That is the oldest and safest trick in the book.
Are you still high from last night?
He also has been at the forefront of prosecuting public corruption on a state level. The Jimmy Metts, Jason Amodio, and San Jose guy investigations were all done as part of a joint investigation through his office. They all got what they deserved. Why would he care about some small town mayor or admin clerk.
Government Employees are stepping stones for politicians.
NEWSFLASH!!!
Alan Wilson is SOUTH CAROLINA attorney general and signing on to every frivolous Red state anti-Obama lawsuit is NOT focusing on what he needs to be focusing on…which is SOUTH CAROLINA and its crimes and corruption.
Alan Wilson has gone up against the corrupt Obama Administration over and over, and kicked Obama’s ass. He deserves MAJOR credit for beating Obama on Voter Integrity and the NLRB’s Gestapo tactics to steal SC jobs. Wilson made me proud in his resistance to the ignorant redefinition of marriage the courts have forced on the people, who do not want it redefined for a small gaggle of political lobbyists.
So I’d say you look like an idiot attacking the man who has defended us against powerful and dangerous political criminals. Now shut the Fuck up like a fool should.
OMG.
AG Wilson = a willing stooge.
“No one with power does a thing to stop it. AG Wilson? Where is he?”
That’s because anyone with power that attacks another with power, has made himself a target for the rest of those corrupted. No one can fight an army by himself.
It’s mostly unfixable. It’s the reason Serpico just went away. The NYPD claims it “fixed” itself…still to this day Serpico says otherwise and he’s right. That’s just a microcosm of government in general.
The model is the problem, there’s no fix.
The problem is, you have Chicken Littles like you, who run around with the ignorant “Everybody’s Corrupt” mantra. Problems is: you have absolutely NO proof. You’ve been convinced by nutjob conspiracy squealers, like FITSNews, that no one is honest, except you.
Your view of other people is based in stupidity and paranoia.
So you bash our state, because it makes you feel smart, and better than everybody else.
You’re really just not very smart, and easily convinced of fairy tales and myths, while ignoring the damage the Democrat Party does with legal politicians and their activist judges.
And that’s how liberals control the stupid.
I worked in state government, at high levels, for 34 years. I know of which I speak.
I never said everyone was corrupt, you did.
I stand by every word.
If anyone seems to be cheating, it’s working in accordance with the rules the Democrats force on us, using media manipulation.
Again: to claim there is so much corruption, is a way overused “Sky is Falling” tactic imposed on the paranoid by those who manipulate them.
Ans: If you are (were) on the inside, there are whistleblower statutes you could use. But those usually only apply for use to liberals, who do the bidding of the Democrat Party to bring down Republicans. Otherwise they are ignored.
And I bet you are a Democrat, or you claim to be an Independent. You are nothing new, you just think you are unique, and we’ve never heard your song and dance before.
Wrong….again.
Whistleblower protection in SC is recent and not effective.
I watched a co-worker turn over evidence to SLED. It was convincing and reasonable. SLED never investigated and the guy was terminated for insubordination. Evidently, not being friendly to crooks is insubordination.
Why are you so vested? Are you a crooked government worker or the crony?
No, I just get sick of the claims of corruption, that impugn decent people. If you will remember this website attacked Haley, and it was later proved to be a self-serving lie. I’m not a big Haley fan, but NO ONE deserves the assault based on lies, and the perpetual claims of wrongdoing by people who NEVER have any proof. It discourages the best people from getting involved, which is what the left wants to do.
And it’s worse now than it ever was in SC because the GOP is a majority. While the federal government raids IRS data, spies on citizens for political purposes and fudges stats, with the aid of the media.
Too many are upside down, indicting the law-abiding, and letting the truly guilty, walk, all based on Democrat Party affiliation. It degrades our society, and makes the country a filthy, less -just place. That’s as sad as it is pathetic.
How long do Republicans have to be in charge in this state to have any of the ‘personal responsibility’ for any of their corruption?
They’ve been in charge close to 30 years, right?
Oh, Haley’s work as an unregistered lobbyist for Lexington Medical Center and Wilbur Smith while is the SC House is corruption.
Remember, the only reason the House Ethics Committee gave her a pass was because, like her mentor Sanford, she claimed everybody else was doing it and threatened to name names.
Corruption + extortion does not equal honesty.
What did Jimmy know? “Mr. Republican–Lexington County (ret)” And what did he get for ignoring it.
Boss Hogg approved payments.
Is Swansea a girls name or a boys name? I’m naming my Children for Lexington County towns. We already have the following.
1. Chapin (Girl)
2. Lexington (Boy) Lex for short
3. Irmo (Gender Fluid)
4. Gilbert (Boy)
5. Summit (Girl with Big ole Titties)
6. Cayce (Girl)
7. Pelion (Hermaphrodite)
8. Springdale (Girl)
9. La Congree du Sud (Girl)
10.Pine Ridge (Boy)
We have another bun in the oven and Doc said it was going to be a girl, and I think Swansea would be a good name, just wanted to make sure it was a girl name.
But look at the crime rate in those communities, then compare it to Columbia, with it’s lord-almighty liberal always-taxing, leadership. A murder every other day. Same with Richland 1 schools and all the money they have.
Killing may seem hip to you, but there is no wonder people are leaving Columbia in droves, and coming to Lexington County. The voters in Lexington just have to make sure the liberals don’t come with the taxpayers they must have to feed their greed, and empower their hateful schemes.
No one with all those teeth live in Lexington County so I wouldn’t worry about it. Please tell you convict Sherrie we all from Richland County say Hi
EDIT. All their teeth
LMAO. I bet you don’t have teeth, do you? Idiot. (:
I hit a nerve there, huh? good try at deflection
“tell you convict Sherrie” WTF? LMAO! Are you a moron?
By the way: Lexington County has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, and it has schools at the top of the quality list of any
in America.
Richland 1, is near the bottom in education, despite gargantuan spending, and you are at the top in violent crime rate. RichCo is a bastion of corruption (see voting scandal, stripper scandal etc..) You vote majority Democrat, and epitomize failure.
Lexington County voters vote 70% against Democrats.
Stay your ass in Richland County, please.
Lexington County had an issue with Jimmy Metts being a crook. How many Chief’s of Police has the City of Columbia went through? Also, what was up with their crime lab? Lavish personal trips for members of the city council? Then you have the education quality and employment rates that you mentioned.
I also believe that Richland County taxes are higher with lower results for the dollar. Possible undetected or unreported skimping going on over there or just blatant mismanagement?
I agree, Richland County is the model reason not to vote democrat,
Good point. In Lexington County, if an official steps out of line, he is punished. That’s the case ESPECIALLY for Republicans (see ard, Harrell.) Even though Metts was not guilty of anything close to all the accusations, many by this website.
If you are a Democrat, in a county enveloped in corruption like Richland, it seems the authorities let you get away with it. Kinda like they do Obama, and the Clintons. And they are destroying our country.
You are talking Lexington County and City of Columbia. They aren’t the same and also why are assuming I live in Columbia? The last I checked my house is on Forest Lake in Forest Acres not Columbia. Did you not know there was a difference?
Yes. Forest Acres has begun overrun by illegal immigrants unless you live in Forest Lake.
Lakeshore. They can’t afford here
I know the area. We have family that lives there. Unfortunately that area is surrounded by Decker and Percival on two sides. It’s only a matter of time before the crime from that area disturbs the oasis that you live in.
Not a chance. It’s too close to the police department, and they know where to patrol based on where their $ comes from. It’s easy to spot a car that shouldn’t be there. We are more than fine
There are houses there that once you are in the driveway, no one would see them. Plus, Who would look twice at a landscaping truck in that area?
While I appreciate your concern, all of the same houses that you can’t see from the road have closed gates that you would need a key card to get in as well as multiple cameras to protect them if someone did. Also any and all landscapers or contractors must have business licenses clearly placed on their automobiles . Forest Acres is very strict about that and pull them over if they are not there. Again thanks for your concern but trust me, we are safer than you.
Not all homes that are positioned that way have cameras and gates. Camera’s won’t stop the crime. They just document the events. If you are talking about video home surveillance, then that can help but it is not a be all end all. I didn’t say that a landscaper would rob you, I said that a vehicle that is similar to those that they use could me mistaken for them. The biggest thing that makes you vulnerable is your belief that it cannot happen.
It could be that I have a very good alarm system, multiple cameras, three giant dogs that most wont dare come on my property, or the fact that my and my immediate neighbors memberships into the NRA, while exercising our constitutionally protected rights under the 2nd amendment, and are quite good hunters when we go out for deer (which are far more elusive than anyone that might come on to my property “uninvited”) . Again I can assure you I am more than protected, and I thank you for your very odd level of concern and interest into this situation. This is where I will leave this conversation.
I wish the best for you but I fear for you due to your naivety.
Are you too fucking stupid to think it might have been done on a Iphone and a button or two was hit incorrectly by accident? WTF??? LMAO are you retarded or just don’t own a phone that can do that? Don’t worry about me coming to “your county”. As for the rest of your BS, its okay. I have a better education than you as I went to private school and college, I vote republican, I probably make more money than you do, I have my all my original teeth as I have dental and don’t ‘chew”, and I didn’t marry my sister. The same can not be said for most of you rednecks in Lexington and I know it cant be said for you. The only times I need to go into Lexington is to get building materials for one of my rental properties, or if I get stuck having to go to a party at the cheap lake of the state. Other than that there is nothing there
I just pointed out, you made a damn fool of yourself. But you’re a fucking Democrat, I expect you to be a damn fool. Just as I expect you to lie about who you are, when you get busted fucking up.
You are so typical. (:
No, you rushed to a judgement and didn’t think it through while playing grammar police. Must be the only game you can play with out a job that pays you more. Let me guess, You clean the boats for the 2nd “summer house” folks whose kids come to piss in your lake? Jakes Landing maybe? Tell you what, when you leave your trailer park off Highway six assuming your pickup can make it down the street, you can come clean my gutters if you need to make some extra cash. That way you can buy your wife/sister of yours that little confederate flag ring she been wanting. It would be “purty” in sure. Come on hillbilly you know it’s true. And yes I vote republican so I don’t really give a shit if you believe it or not. Now smile and let us all see those 4 yellow teeth you have.
Trying to insult me for pointing out your ignorance, just makes you look more stupid. (;
No, you using childish smiley faces do that on its own. I see 14 year olds doing that. Nice try though Bo Duke. Now get back to work and clean my boat redneck
White flight. But mainly because Lexington County is just one more suburb of Columbia, where the better paying jobs are (unless you are stealing in Swansea).
Bunnie looks good …..
“Spires’ spellcheck deficient mayoral campaign.”
Hmm…glass house?
Nice catch, (:
I really can’t help myself after having gone through the abuse of “spading” from my time on a law review.
What am I missing here?
A hyphen in the compound adjective?
Spires’s? But Jesus’.
Is Sled going to prosecute the Mayor Spires and his band of happy thieves or is the cost to the county going to be so high (lesson learned in Gaston cause it cost more to try the Mayor and others involved than they stole). Granted over the years it has amounted to thousands more than started this investigation unless you throw in the high salaries of keeping everyone quiet.
It seems like a group took proof five years ago there was money missing but sled ignored it then and how much more has been taken in the last 5 year’s since it wasn’t investigated. Seems like Sled didn’t have a real forensic auditor or money to hire one. Said the town of Swansea would have to pay for it, so the Mayor and the crooked (not all but most of them) council members would have to okay the money spent to catch them. Now that’s going to happen right!
Jake Mooooooooooore!!!!!!! oh Jake Mooooooooooooore!!!!!!! Do you represent this fine town as its attorney???
Shoot, Mayor Spires has been doing this for years. Years back he hired a husband/wife duo. (spence). One was chief and the other kept the books. All the sudden they both resign.
Same old same old!
We have city and county officials for years collect stipends for insurance because they had it elseware>
This little shithole iof a town aint worth writin about, yall
Congrats Fitsnews! You broke it here first now The State has published it but its weak and kissy especially about the possible causes, bad bookkeeping my big toe. Of course, the Mayor is lying to cover himself but Sled may never find it if they listen to Spires nothings wrong
Let’s see the news out of Swansea. Wait there is no news out of Swansea. Admissions of guilt from a water clerk, Mayor Ray Slippery Spires paying his taxes with town checks (that’s okay I guess right) and implicated in stealing funds, even the auditor couldn’t cover it any longer (boy, I know that hurt his future revenue stream). We don’t have time for the affluent head of the Water Department (one of the best paid in the state by the way). So Sled what is stopping you? Wait I know the answer! First Sled you remember two council members came to you years ago (about five) with proof of theft. You asked the town auditor if he thought so then and he said “No”. The missing money’s gotten worse so to cover himself I guess, now he thinks so.
Just exactly who keeps covering for Mayor Slippery Spires and his two council blind mice. Oh I know there’s two more council members but one has been the Mayors yes man for just a few years, he’s the token white guy so they will believe his Spires lies. The other he is the ‘I told you so the Mayor and his band was crooked’. People hated him, I mean he wanted honest government and no free water for votes.
So Sled, So Governor, So people what’s going to happen? Simple, nothing. Sled doesn’t have a forensic accountant, heavens forbid they ask anyone with proof, the Governor can’t until someone’s indicted (if that happens wait until you get a load of the Mayor Pro Tem, not in the world not even in this time zone), so Mayor Ray Slippery Spires slide by again I guess. Wonder if he knows Teflon Bill Clinton?