Within the case of public corruption of the FBI in North Charleston | News

In June 2024, an FBI agent approached the fields and asked him if he had any knowledge of payments on behalf of Sea Fox for his rezoning request. Fields said no, that collection documents are declared.

Later, Fields supposedly sent texts to Moses containing an image of an agenda and asked Moses working on behalf of the churches. Fields was trying to cover up the bribes, prosecutors said.

The fields face charges that include cable and bribery fraud. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comments.

Brown is accused of electronic fraud and conspiracy to commit bribes with respect to programs that receive federal funds. He could not be contacted to comment, and it is not clear if he has a lawyer. Governor Henry McMaster suspended Brown on February 26 of the City Council pending the resolution of the case.

Both Brown and the fields will appear on March 11 in the Federal Court.

Moses, who resigned from February 26, declared himself guilty of not alerting the authorities about the alleged crimes, the only error that was accused, said Leon Stavrinakis, his lawyer. Moses was intentionally directed to manipulation by people involved in a criminal conspiracy; He cut them when he realized his scheme, said Stavrinakis.

Hicks also declared himself guilty on February 28 for charges that include cable and bribery fraud. Brady Vannoy, his lawyer, told the newspaper that Hicks had respected former members of the Heyward and Brown council.

“The people you admire, you can be persuaded to do things that your conscience would tell you the opposite that you should not do,” said Vannoy.

The authorities remain with tight lips about the state of their investigation. But his case is indicative of how business has been done in North Charleston for more than one generation, Vannoy said. The United States prosecutor’s office is interested in understanding and finishing, in those ways, he added.

“There is a long expectation that you must pay to play, so to speak, to do business in North Charleston,” said Main Prosecutor Emily Limehouse on February 28. I hoped that guilt statements remind other public officials that serve the benefit of the public, not for personal enrichment.