A federal grand jury in Charleston indicted Kevin Dion Hollinshead, a Charleston County School District Trustee, on March 17 for accepting a bribe and committing wire and bank fraud related to COVID relief loans.
The indictment alleges that Hollinshead accepted a bribe in exchange for supporting a construction company’s appeal after it failed to secure a bid for a district project. According to the charges, Hollinshead encouraged an executive from the company to hire a consultant who agreed to pay him part of his consulting fee as a kickback. Hollinshead then used his official position on the school board to influence the appeal process in favor of the company.
In addition, prosecutors allege that in 2020 and 2021, Hollinshead applied for two pandemic relief loans through programs administered by the Small Business Administration. The indictment states he included false information about his business’s revenues and employment figures and used some of the loan proceeds for personal expenses, including a medical procedure at a clinic in Mexico.
“As alleged, Hollinshead used his position and influence as a school board member for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to hold elected officials who violate the public trust accountable, particularly when that trust involves the well-being of our children’s education.”
Hollinshead faces up to 30 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine if convicted. He is scheduled to appear before United States Magistrate Judge Molly H. Cherry on March 18 in Charleston. The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse.
All charges are accusations at this stage; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
