Attorney General Alan Wilson
Recent News About Attorney General Alan Wilson
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Attorney General Alan Wilson Announces West Columbia Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Child Sexual Abuse Material, Drugs, and Resisting Arrest
Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced that a Lexington County man, Jordan Keith Agee, has been sentenced to five years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material, drugs, and resisting arrest. Agee pleaded guilty to the charges, including Resisting Arrest, Possession of Less Than 1 Gram of Methamphetamine/Cocaine Base, and four counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – 3rd Degree.According to Attorney General Alan Wilson, Agee was the subject of multiple investigations by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, with incidents dating back to early 2022....
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Cherokee County Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material* and Related Charges
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of James Mitchell Wayne McAbee, 20, on 11 charges connected to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. McAbee was arrested on April 8, 2024, by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Charleston Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.According to investigators, McAbee solicited a person he believed to be a minor for sex, encouraged them to produce child sexual abuse material, sent sexually explicit images...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson announces 16-year sentence for Lancaster Co. man who hid camera in bathroom
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that a Lancaster County man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for hiding a camera in a bathroom and recording young girls showering. William Brandon Lee Campbell pleaded guilty to two counts of Voyeurism and one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, 2nd degree. This announcement came after Campbell admitted to placing a camera in a home in Indian Land in Lancaster County and recording videos of young girls showering.Judge Brian Gibbons presided over the case and sentenced Campbell to 16...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson Announces Charges Against Sumter Woman for Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced that Annette Bolden Coard, a 54-year-old resident of Sumter, S.C., has been arrested for Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult and Financial Identity Fraud. Coard was booked into the Sumter County Detention Center on April 5, 2024.According to the joint investigation by the SCMFCU and the Sumter Police Department, Coard allegedly misused the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult by using the victim's personal identifying information. It is alleged that Coard, while employed at Carriage House/Patriot Living in Sumter,...
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South Carolina Adopts Exam Validity Extension Programs for Broker-Dealer Agents and Investment Adviser Representatives
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the adoption of the Broker-Dealer Agent Exam Validity Extension Program (AG EVEP) and the Investment Adviser Representative Exam Validity Extension Program (IAR EVEP), coordinated by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA). Wilson stated, "With these adoptions, individuals can now enroll all of their eligible NASAA exams into the applicable exam validity extension programs. The program is designed to provide flexibility for currently registered persons who, for various reasons, may need to...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson Promotes Financial Literacy Month in South Carolina
Attorney General Alan Wilson today recognized April as Financial Literacy Month, a month dedicated to promoting the importance of financial literacy and financial education. Wilson emphasized the significance of educating South Carolinians on financial matters.To kick off Financial Literacy Month, Attorney General Wilson announced the availability of free resources for South Carolinians on the office’s website, InformedInvestorSC.com. The resources cover various financial topics such as investment guides, making informed decisions when starting a new job, and working with...
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Williamsburg County Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Ronald Gene Blankenship, Jr., 42, of Hemingway, S.C., on three charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators state Blankenship distributed files of child sexual abuse material. Blankenship was arrested on March 27, 2024. He is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree (§16-15-405), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.Attorney...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson Fights Against Biden's Unlawful Student Debt Cancellation
Attorney General Alan Wilson has once again taken a stand against the Biden Administration's attempt to implement a student loan forgiveness program. Wilson, along with a coalition of 10 states, filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the program. Wilson stated, "Joe Biden does not have the ability to cancel debt. To keep an outlandish campaign promise, he abused power he didn't have to implement an unlawful student debt cancellation program."The lawsuit argues that the U.S. Department of Education does not have the authority to alter student loan repayment plans,...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson Urges Public to Call 811 Before Digging
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson is reminding everyone about the importance of safe digging practices as April approaches, which marks National Safe Digging Month. Wilson emphasized the necessity of calling or logging in to www.SC811.com before starting any digging projects. He stated, "It’s the law, and it’s not just for contractors and utilities. No job is too small or too big."Wilson highlighted the alarming statistic that in the United States, a utility line is damaged on average every nine minutes. He stressed the potential consequences, mentioning...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Spartanburg man sentenced for Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor
Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that a Spartanburg man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing a child. On March 25, 2024, Agustin Vargas, 51, of Spartanburg pleaded guilty to Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor in the Second Degree. The Honorable Judge R. Keith Kelly sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Vargas admitted to sexually abusing a six-year-old girl.The case was investigated by Investigator Robert “Ben” Johnson with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant Attorney General Megan Raymer prosecuted the case. A special thank...
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Greenville Man Arrested on Child Sexual Abuse Material* Charges
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of John Joseph Varn, 32, of Greenville, S.C., on five charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General's Office, also a member of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation. Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson Urges Renewed Focus on Bond Provisions
Attorney General Alan Wilson of South Carolina has called for a renewed attention to the state's bond provisions, emphasizing the importance of enforcing laws that protect South Carolinians. Wilson highlighted the need for judicial consideration of a defendant's immigration status and previous bond history when determining bond.In a letter addressed to South Carolina solicitors, Wilson expressed his concerns about the current border situation, stating, "It’s clear the Biden Administration isn’t going to close the border, so it’s up to the states to deal with the...
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Aiken Man Arrested on Criminal Solicitation of a Minor Charges
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Brett Alan Crowe, age 46, of Aiken, S.C., on three charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Crowe was arrested on March 20, 2024, by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Mount Pleasant Police Department. Other agencies such as the Aiken Department of Public Safety, Aiken County Sheriff's Office, and U.S. Marshals Service, all members of the state's ICAC Task Force, also assisted in the investigation.According to the authorities,...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson Orders Sigue Corp. to Cease Money Transmission Activities
Attorney General Alan Wilson has ordered Sigue Corp. to cease engaging in money transmission activities in South Carolina due to the company's failing financial condition. Wilson, acting as the Commissioner over certain money services businesses, took this action after Sigue Corp. failed to satisfy outstanding money transmission liabilities, which violated state law.In a coordinated effort with thirty-nine states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, a consent order was issued to address the situation. Sigue Corp., a state-regulated money transmission company...
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Moncks Corner Man Arrested on 9 Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of William Joseph Godlewski, 36, of Moncks Corner, S.C., on nine charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. The arrest was made by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Moncks Corner Police Department, with assistance from the Attorney General's Office.The arrest came after investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which led them to Godlewski. According to investigators, Godlewski...
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Florida Man Arrested on Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Related Charges
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Justin Scott Kriedeman, 32, of Green Cove Springs, FL, on 10 total charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Kriedeman was apprehended by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Mount Pleasant Police Department and Charleston Police Department.According to the authorities, Kriedeman engaged in disturbing behaviors, as stated by investigators: "Kriedeman solicited and traveled to meet a person he believed to be a minor for sex, encouraged...
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West Columbia Man Arrested on Criminal Sexual Conduct with a Minor and Related Charges
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Joshua Louis Cunningham, 20, of West Columbia, S.C., on two charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department made the arrest. Cunningham engaged in criminal sexual conduct with a minor and manufactured files of child sexual abuse material.Cunningham was arrested on March 21, 2024. He is charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor (§16-3-655(B)(2));...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson Leads 22-State Coalition in Supporting Texas Law on Illegal Immigration
Attorney General Alan Wilson, along with a coalition of 22 states, has voiced their support for a Texas state law that criminalizes illegal immigration and empowers state officials to enforce it. Wilson stated, “Joe Biden has created a border crisis of historic proportions… Texas’s state law banning illegal immigration is absolutely Constitutional, and I’m glad to lead a coalition to defend it.”The amicus brief filed by the states in support of Texas’s law emphasizes the states' obligation to address the public crisis of illegal immigration and protect their citizens'...
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Goose Creek Man Arrested on Criminal Solicitation of a Minor and Related Charges
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Ryan Nicholas Langdon, 31, of Goose Creek, S.C., on six charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators state Langdon solicited and traveled to meet a person he believed to be a minor for sex, encouraged them to produce child sexual abuse material, and sent sexually explicit material to a person he believed to be a minor.Langdon was arrested on March 18, 2024. He is charged with three counts of criminal solicitation of a minor, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years...
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Attorney General Alan Wilson announces arrests in Orangeburg unlicensed care home case
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Estelle A. Hutchinson and Tracy T. Wright, both of Orangeburg, SC, in connection with a case involving the neglect and mistreatment of vulnerable adults in an unlicensed Certified Residential Care Facility (CRCF). The arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (SCMFCU), the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety (ODPS), and the SCDHEC’s Bureau of Healthcare Quality.According to a statement by Attorney General Wilson, the investigation revealed that Hutchinson and...