New indictments allege Alex Murdaugh stole from his brother, name 2 new accomplices
New indictments unsealed Friday against disbarred and jailed South Carolina attorney Richard “Alex” Murdaugh further allege theft from his own brother and the law firm his great-grandfather founded and names two more alleged accomplices in an intricate, decade-long web of criminal conspiracy that spanned the Lowcountry.
S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the S.C. State Grand Jury issued more indictments against Murdaugh on Aug. 16, as well as indictments against alleged accomplices Spencer Anwan Roberts and Jerry K. Rivers.
Murdaugh, who on July 14 was indicted in the 2021 murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, was indicted this week for:
- Four counts of obtaining 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
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In Indictment 2022-GS-47-23, venued in Colleton County, the State Grand Jury charged Murdaugh with misappropriating funds rather than paying the fees into the family law firm (Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, and Detrick, P.A.) as he was required to do. On Dec. 16, 2020, Murdaugh allegedly stole a $91,867.50 check from PMPED by having the check deposited into a fraudulent account he created under the name of “Richard A Murdaugh Sole Prop DBA Forge.” On May 12, 2021, Murdaugh allegedly stole an $83,333.33 check from the firm.
In Indictment 2022-GS-47-24, venued in Hampton County, the State Grand Jury alleged Murdaugh, through false representations, took a loan repayment for $121,358.63 from the firm that was due to another partner – his brother, Randolph "Randy" Murdaugh IV – and cashed it for himself.
In Indictment 2022-GS-47-22, venued in Colleton County, the State Grand Jury charged Roberts with:
- One count of obtaining 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
- One count of Insurance Fraud
Roberts is accused of conduct “involving narcotics, dangerous drugs, or controlled substances” of a “multi-county nature.” Earlier this summer, Murdaugh was also indicted on multi-county narcotics charges.
Roberts is also accused of fraudulently obtaining $20,000 in federal funds distributed under the Paycheck Protection Program by representing himself to be a qualified business and self-employed “Insurance Agency or Brokerage" firm on Feb. 25, 2021.
Roberts is further charged with fraudulently obtaining $24,867 in unemployment insurance from the SC Department of Employment and Workforce, between the dates of May 2020 and May 2021, by representing himself to have lost employment with “Spin’s Car Wash” due to the SARS-COV-2 pandemic.
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In Indictment 2022-GS-47-21, venued in Colleton County, the State Grand Jury charged Rivers with one count of obstruction of justice. Rivers is accused of illegally taking a cell phone belonging to another person that had been arrested on Aug. 10, 2020, in connection with multi-county drug crimes.
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. When local indictments, including murder charges, are added, Murdaugh is facing a total of 97 criminal charges, according to the AG’s office. The former lawyer is also facing 11 civil suits.
Murdaugh remains jailed in Richland County’s Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on a $7 million bond he has been unable to meet. His attorneys have petitioned the courts for a January 2023 trial in the double murder case.
This State Grand Jury investigation is being conducted by the SC Law Enforcement Division, the SC Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.