Former attorney Alex Murdaugh is facing new indictments, bringing the total number of charges against him to 90, the state’s attorney general announced Friday morning.
The South Carolina State Grand Jury issued new indictments against Richard Alexander Murdaugh, Spencer Anwan Roberts, and Jerry K. Rivers.
Murdaugh faces four counts of obtaining a signature or property by false pretenses value $10,000 or more; two counts of money laundering value $20,000 - $100,000; one count of money laundering value $100,000 or more; two counts of computer crime value more than $10,000.
Roberts was indicted for one count of obtaining a signature or property by false pretenses value $10,000 or more; one count of money laundering value $20,000 - $100,000; one count of computer crime value more than $10,000; and one count of insurance fraud.
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Rivers was indicted for obstruction of justice.
The crimes charged in the indictments carry the following classifications and penalties:
- Obstruction of Justice is punishable by up to 10 years in prison
- Obtaining Signature or Property by False Pretenses, Value $10,000 or more is a felony and punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine up to $500
- Money Laundering, Value $20,000 - $100,000 is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine up to $250,000 or twice the value of the transactions, whichever is greater
- Money Laundering, Value More Than $100,000 is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine up to $250,000 or twice the amount at issue
- Computer Crime, Value More Than $10,000 is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $50,000
- Insurance Fraud, Value More Than $10,000 but less than $50,000 is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $50,000
There are allegations out there- allegedly misappropriated money flowed from Alex Murdaugh out various ways," said South Carolina Assistant Attorney General Creighton Waters. "A lot of that went through Curtis “Eddie” Smith, and then they continued downstream to other accomplices who helped cash and launder that money. And that would go through Spencer Roberts, and Mr. Rivers was one of those. So far to date, the investigation has revealed in 2021 alone about $89,000 worth of checks that went to Mr. Rivers that he negotiated.
Altogether, through 18 indictments containing 90 charges against Murdaugh, the State Grand Jury has indicted Murdaugh for schemes to defraud victims of $8,789,447.77.
This State Grand Jury investigation is being conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office. The case will be prosecuted by The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
Murdaugh also is charged with two counts of murder in the June 7, 2021, deaths of his wife and son, 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh. The murder trial is expected to be held in January.
There will be a bond hearing for Rivers on Friday, August 19, at 2:15 p.m. at the Richland County Courthouse in front of Judge Clifton Newman.