A federal grand jury in Charleston has returned a 12-count superseding indictment against Rose Emily Lorenzo, 64, of North Carolina. The new charges include one count of making a false statement to the FBI and two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation.
According to the indictment, Lorenzo is accused of telling the FBI she was not aware of funds from two non-profits being transferred to a member of the North Charleston City Council. She is also alleged to have knowingly falsified records and documents with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence related federal investigations.
Lorenzo was first charged in February 2021 with conspiracy to commit bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, theft from programs receiving federal funds, bribery related to those programs, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering.
If convicted on all counts, Lorenzo faces up to 20 years in federal prison. She is scheduled for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Molly H. Cherry on September 25 at 10:00 a.m.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting.
“All charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and Lorenzo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
