3 councilmen in South Carolina city charged in bribery and kickback scheme
GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR ON THIS THURSDAY MORNING. WE’RE STARTING WITH AN AMBER ALERT OUT OF NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE RIGHT NOW, AUTHORITIES IN HARNETT COUNTY ARE SEARCHING FOR A MISSING TEEN. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS AZALEA STRIFFLER WAS LAST SEEN IN SPRING LAKE NEAR FAYETTEVILLE. THE 15 YEAR OLD IS FIVE FEET, FOUR INCHES TALL, WITH BLOND HAIR AND BLUE EYES. OUR NBC AFFILIATE IN RALEIGH TELLS US HER MOTHER SAYS SHE’S BEEN MISSING SINCE TUESDAY MORNING. WE’RE ALSO LEARNING NEW DETAILS ABOUT A DEPUTY SHOOTING IN ANDERSON COUNTY. THE SHOOTING HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND. SLED SAYS A DEPUTY ATTEMPTED TO STOP A MAN ON A BICYCLE TO SERVE A FAMILY COURT BENCH WARRANT. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE MAN GOT OFF THE BIKE AND RAN. WE’RE TOLD THE MAN PULLED A HANDGUN, WHICH LED TO THE DEPUTY OPENING FIRE. THE MAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS 55 YEAR OLD LAWRENCE DEVILBISS. THE DEPUTY WAS NOT INJURED. IT’S BEEN FIVE MONTHS TO THE DAY SINCE HURRICANE HELENE, AND TOWN LEADERS IN BLACK MOUNTAIN SAY RECOVERY IS PROGRESSING. LAST SEPTEMBER, THE TOWN WAS FLOODED, TEARING DOWN ROADS AND FILLING BUILDINGS WITH WATER AND MUD. VETERANS PARK HAD FEET OF WATER WHICH DESTROYED THE BASEBALL FIELDS AND WAS ALSO STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY A BRIDGE AWAY. TODAY, THE GROUND HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND THE TOWN EXPECTS THE BASEBALL SEASON TO START IN APRIL, BUT OTHER PARTS OF THE TOWN ARE STILL UNTOUCHED SINCE THE STORM, AS DEBRIS LINES, RIVERBANKS AND STREETS. BLACK MOUNTAIN TOWN ADMINISTRATOR SAYS THEY’LL NEED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST TO GET BACK TO NORMAL. IT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A MONTH. IN A YEAR. YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A FEW HOURS FOR IT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT’S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE. JOSH HAROLD ALSO SAYS MANY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WILL INCLUDE WAYS TO PREVENT SIMILAR DAMAGE SHOULD IT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. MORE THAN 12,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A PETITION AGAINST IT, AND THEY’RE EXPECTED TO WEIGH IN FURTHER TONIGHT AT A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING FOR THE. IN ALTAMONT, THE $60 MILLION LUXURY HOTEL WOULD BE BUILT ON PARIS MOUNTAIN, BUT THE LAND IS ZONED FOR RESIDENTIAL HOMES, AND IT’S IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE DISTRICT. THE MEETING IS TONIGHT FROM 6 TO 8 AT GREENVILLE SHRINE CLUB AND EVENT CENTER. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPER’S PLANS ON WYFF4.COM. WE’LL BRING YOU MORE OF THE STORY AS IT DEVELOPS. PRESIDENT TRUMP CONVENED HIS CABINET SECRETARIES FOR THE FIRST MEETING OF HIS NEW TERM. THE CABINET MEETING, WHICH INCLUDED NOMINEES WHO HAVEN’T YET BEEN CONFIRMED, WAS ALSO JOINED BY ELON MUSK. THE BILLIONAIRE’S EFFORTS TO RESHAPE THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE HAVE PROMPTED RESISTANCE FROM SOME CABINET SECRETARIES. ALTHOUGH THE ROOM APPLAUDED FOR MUSK WHEN PROMPTED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP. THE PRESIDENT ALSO TOUCHED ON A NUMBER OF TOPICS, INCLUDING A TIMELINE FOR MORE TARIFFS TO GO INTO EFFECT, A NEW PLAN FOR VISA APPLICATIONS AND THE MEASLES OUTBREAK IN WEST TEXAS. A NEW REPORT OUT TODAY PROVIDE HARD DATA ABOUT THE STATE OF THE U.S. ECONOMY AND HOW IT IMPACTS YOUR WALLET. THEY INCLUDE UPDATES ON THE GDP. MORTGAGE RATES, PENDING HOME SALES AND JOBLESS CLAIMS. THOSE NUMBERS FOLLOW OTHER INDICATORS OF THE ECONOMY. UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP. TAKE TARIFFS, FOR INSTANCE. RECENT SURVEYS SHOW THAT THEY’RE CAUSING A CONCERN ABOUT INFLATION. MEANWHILE, A NEW HOUSE RESOLUTION HAS MASSIVE SPENDING CUTS. BUT IT’S SWEEPING. TAX BREAKS ARE NOT SITTING WELL WITH SOME LAWMAKERS. THE HEAD OF THE USDA IS SHARING A NEW STRATEGY SHE SAYS WILL HELP WITH THE SPREAD OF BIRD FLU AND LOWER EGG PRICES. SHE SAYS THE AGENCY WILL INVEST $1 BILLION FOR THAT PLAN, AND IT WILL BE PAID FOR, AT LEAST IN PART, BY CUTS MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY. THAT PLAN INCLUDES SPENDING $500 MILLION TO HELP ENHANCE BIOSECURITY MEASURES TO HELP KEEP THE VIRUS OFF FARMS. CUTTING BACK ON REGULATIONS AND EGG PRODUCERS AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR FAMILIES TO RAISE BACKYARD CHICKENS AND POSSIBLY TEMPORARILY IMPORTING MORE EGGS TO REDUCE PRICES. IT’S ALMOST SPRING ALLERGY SEASON, BUT CHECK YOUR MEDICINE CABINET. THE FDA IS RECALLING MORE THAN 89,000 BOTTLES OF A NASAL SPRAY AFTER TESTS FOUND A BACTERIA THAT COULD GIVE YOU INFECTIONS. IT’S FOR THE SOFT TIP, SQUEEZE BOTTLE NASAL WASH SYSTEM. THE PRODUCT IS PACKAGED IN A CARTON CONTAINING THE SQUEEZE BOTTLE AT 30 SALINE PACKETS. IT WAS SHIPPED TO STORES LAST MONTH AND SOLD NATIONWIDE IN STORES AND ONLINE. THE EXPIRATION DATE IS DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. YOU SHOULD STOP USING THIS PRODUCT AND RETURN IT TO THE STORE OR THROW IT AWAY. WELL, IT’S 649. HAPPY THURSDAY! WE ARE IN THE 40S AND IN THE 50S, SO DEFINITELY ON THE COOLER SIDE FOR PARTS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA, BUT PRETTY MILD FOR PARTS OF THE UPSTATE. MUCH WARMER THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY AT THIS TIME. 17 DEGREES WARMER IN CULLOWHEE AND IN UNION AND IN GAFFNEY, 16 DEGREES WARMER IN GREENWOOD. LET’S TAKE A LOOK. WE’VE GOT INCREASING CLOUDS AS WE SPEAK. SO MORE AND MORE CLOUDS HEADING OUR WAY AS WE GO INTO THE NEXT FEW HOURS. YOU MAY RUN INTO A VERY ISOLATED SHOWER OR TWO BETWEEN 1 AND 4 OR 5:00 TODAY, BUT MOST OF US WILL STAY DRY. HOWEVER, AROUND THIS SAME TIME FRAME, THOSE WIND GUSTS GO UP TO ABOUT 30MPH AND THEY WILL STAY UP THROUGH TONIGHT, EVEN THOUGH WE’LL HAVE CLEARING SKIES. SO A COOL FRONT IS COMING THROUGH. IT’S GOING TO BLOW THROUGH PRETTY QUICKLY. AROUND LUNCHTIME. WE’LL SEE A FEW SPOTTY SHOWERS FOR THE MOUNTAINS, BUT NOTICE HOW QUICKLY WE BEGIN TO CLEAR BY THE END OF THE AFTERNOON AND THE EVENING. DAYTIME HIGHS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA NEAR 60 DEGREES TODAY. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR ENTIRE WEEKEND AND A COOL DOWN FOR NEXT WEEK WITH YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS. I’LL HAVE THAT IN LESS THAN SEVEN MINUTES FROM RIGHT NOW. FIRST, LET’S GET YOU OUTSIDE. GET ANOTHER CHECK AT OUR TRAFFIC DESTINY. WELL, IF YOU’RE COMING TOWARDS GREENVILLE, SPARTANBURG, PARELLA, YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO LEAVE EARLY. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BREAKING TRAFFIC NEWS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. A CRASH ON I-85 SOUTH AT MILE MARKER 67 NEAR HIGHWAY 29. AND SC 129 TWO. OUTSIDE LANES ARE CLOSED AGAIN. GET OUT THE DOOR EXTRA EARLY THIS MORNING OR AVOID THIS AREA ALTOGETHER. SEEK AN ALTERNATE ROUTE IF YOU CHOOSE. ALSO, TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR TRAVEL TIMES AS WELL. I-240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY TO TAKE YOU 11 MINUTES. AIRPORT ON WOODRUFF ROAD SIX MINUTES. FAIRVIEW ROAD TO DOWNTOWN 13. BEYOND MONET AND BEYOND VAN GOGH, THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES START TOMORROW AT THE GREENVILLE CONVENTION CENTER. IT’S A NEW LOOK AT ICONIC PAINTINGS OFF THE CANVAS. ARE ISABELLE MARCUS JOINING US LIVE FROM THERE WITH WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE IT OPENS. GOOD MORNING. ISABELLE. HEY ERIN AND DUSTIN, GOOD MORNING. THIS IS OUR LAST, YOU KNOW, INSIDE LOOK BEFORE THIS EXHIBIT OPENS. AND THIS IS THE EPITOME OF A WALKING, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE HERE. I MEAN, THESE PAINTINGS ARE THREE DIMENSIONAL. THEY MOVE, THEY CHANGE. DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU’RE STANDING. IN THIS ROOM, YOU CAN HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE. AND THERE’S THE VAN GOGH SIDE OF THINGS. THERE’S THE MONET SIDE OF YOU CAN DO SEPARATE TICKETS OR YOU CAN BUY THEM TOGETHER. THIS WILL BE HERE UNTIL MARCH 30TH. SO YOU GOT ABOUT FIVE WEEKS TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THIS. AND WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW RIGHT UP THERE ON OUR WEBSITE, WYFF4.COM DOT COM. BUT FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN GREENVILLE, ISABELLE MARAK WYFF NEWS FOUR. ISABELLE. THANK YOU. GREENVILLE IS GETTING READY FOR ANOTHER BIG ART SHOW OF ITS OWN THIS MAY. ARTISTS, FEAR WILL RETURN TO DOWNTOWN. MAY 9TH THROUGH THE 11TH. THE FESTIVAL BRINGS IN VISUAL, PERFORMING AND CULINARY ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, MAKING A BIG IMPACT ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY. WE’RE TOLD 33 STATES ARE REPRESENTED BY THIS YEAR’S ARTISTS, AND THEN AFTER THAT, GREENVILLE WILL WELCOME THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS AND LOCALS TO FALL FOR GREENVILLE. THOSE FESTIVITIES WILL KICK OFF ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9TH WITH A CONCERT FROM 5 TO 10 P.M. THEN FALL FOR GREENVILLE ITSELF WILL RUN FROM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10TH THROUGH SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12TH. WE’LL BE OUT THERE AS ALWAYS. WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU. BUT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER LAST YEAR’S EVENT WAS PUSHED BACK A MONTH AFTER HURRICANE HELENE. FALL FOR GREENVILLE WILL HAVE MORE THAN 60 PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS, AS WELL AS SEVEN STAGES OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, WITH MORE THAN 80 BANDS, FESTIVAL ENTRY AND ENTERTAINMENT ARE FREE. WALMART IS HOSTING A HIRING EVENT TODAY IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY. THEY’RE LOOKING TO FILL ABOUT 200 ROLES AT ITS NEW PERISHABLE DISTRIBUTION CENTER. THAT FACILITY HELPS WALMART DISTRIBUTE GROCERY ITEMS TO MORE THAN 100 STORES ALL ACROSS THE AREA. AS FOR THE SALARY, FULL TIME, HOURLY JOBS START AT $19.90 PER HOUR AND EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER BENEFITS AND PERKS AS WELL. THINGS LIKE A FREE WALMART PLUS MEMBERSHIP. TODAY’S HIRING EVENT IS FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M., AND BE SURE TO BRING YOUR ID WEAR CLOSED TOED,
3 councilmen in South Carolina city charged in bribery and kickback scheme
Updated: 12:59 PM EST Feb 27, 2025
Three members of the City Council in North Charleston accepted kickbacks and bribes to give out grant money and rezone land or lied about what they knew, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.Charges against North Charleston councilmen Jerome Heyward, Sandino Moses and Mike A. Brown along with five others were announced Wednesday after a yearlong investigation by the FBI and state officials.Heyward took a $40,000 kickback from two nonprofit organizations in return for steering to them part of a $1.3 million grant to fight gun violence in North Charleston, according to court documents.Heyward and Brown were part of a scheme by a boat maker to rezone land on the Ashley River in North Charleston that was once a hospital and before that a fertilizer plant to sell to a boat manufacturer. The company offered to build a park but also wanted a plant on the site. The councilmen accepted bribes to try to get the rezoning passed and by that time the FBI was listening to Heyward’s call, catching Brown saying he was annoyed it was taking too long to get his money because he needed to pay for his son’s wedding, prosecutors said.The rezoning plan was rejected.Moses also took money to support the rezoning. He returned it, but he lied about the offer and what he knew about his fellow councilmen being on the take, according to charging documents.Heyward is charged with extortion, bribery and wire fraud. Brown is charged with bribery and wire fraud, and Moses is charged with lying to federal investigators.Heyward and Moses plan to plead guilty to their charges on Friday, acting U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Brook Andrews said.A lawyer for Heyward didn’t comment Wednesday. The other councilmen and their lawyers didn’t immediately respond. Heyward and Moses have resigned from council, North Charleston officials said.“The allegations in this case describe a profound betrayal of trust,” Andrews said at a news conference. “These council members used their positions not to serve their communities, but to enrich themselves.” North Charleston is South Carolina’s third-largest city with about 125,000 people. Mayor Reggie Burgess thanked the FBI and state investigators for their work to make sure residents remained certain with their city government. He said the city fully cooperated with the investigation.“Transparency and accountability remain core principles of this administration, and we welcomed this review as a necessary step to uphold those standards,” Burgess said.
Three members of the City Council in North Charleston accepted kickbacks and bribes to give out grant money and rezone land or lied about what they knew, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
Charges against North Charleston councilmen Jerome Heyward, Sandino Moses and Mike A. Brown along with five others were announced Wednesday after a yearlong investigation by the FBI and state officials.
Heyward took a $40,000 kickback from two nonprofit organizations in return for steering to them part of a $1.3 million grant to fight gun violence in North Charleston, according to court documents.
Heyward and Brown were part of a scheme by a boat maker to rezone land on the Ashley River in North Charleston that was once a hospital and before that a fertilizer plant to sell to a boat manufacturer. The company offered to build a park but also wanted a plant on the site.
The councilmen accepted bribes to try to get the rezoning passed and by that time the FBI was listening to Heyward’s call, catching Brown saying he was annoyed it was taking too long to get his money because he needed to pay for his son’s wedding, prosecutors said.
The rezoning plan was rejected.
Moses also took money to support the rezoning. He returned it, but he lied about the offer and what he knew about his fellow councilmen being on the take, according to charging documents.
Heyward is charged with extortion, bribery and wire fraud. Brown is charged with bribery and wire fraud, and Moses is charged with lying to federal investigators.
Heyward and Moses plan to plead guilty to their charges on Friday, acting U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Brook Andrews said.
A lawyer for Heyward didn’t comment Wednesday. The other councilmen and their lawyers didn’t immediately respond. Heyward and Moses have resigned from council, North Charleston officials said.
“The allegations in this case describe a profound betrayal of trust,” Andrews said at a news conference. “These council members used their positions not to serve their communities, but to enrich themselves.”
North Charleston is South Carolina’s third-largest city with about 125,000 people. Mayor Reggie Burgess thanked the FBI and state investigators for their work to make sure residents remained certain with their city government. He said the city fully cooperated with the investigation.
“Transparency and accountability remain core principles of this administration, and we welcomed this review as a necessary step to uphold those standards,” Burgess said.
