Attorney General Alan Wilson announces State Grand Jury issues a new round of indictments against Richard Alexander Murdaugh for Breach of Trust, Money Laundering, Computer Crimes, and Forgery

(COLUMBIA, SC) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that the South Carolina State Grand Jury issued four indictments consisting of 23 new charges against suspended attorney Richard Alexander Murdaugh. These new indictments charge Murdaugh with 19 counts of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent and four counts of Computer Crimes.

Murdaugh, 53, was suspended from the practice of law by Order of the Supreme Court of South Carolina on September 8, 2021.  Murdaugh was previously indicted by a Colleton County Grand Jury for offenses related to a scheme to commit suicide and defraud an insurance company. Murdaugh also previously was served with two Beaufort County arrest warrants for Obtaining Goods by False Pretenses and remains in custody at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Murdaugh also was indicted in November and December 2021 by the South Carolina State Grand Jury for 48 counts including Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, Obtaining Property by False Pretenses, Money Laundering, Computer Crimes, and Forgery.

In the first new January indictment, venued in Allendale County, Murdaugh was charged with Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, Value More Than $2,000, but Less than $10,000 (14 counts), and Computer Crime, Value $10,000 or More (1 count). The indictments arise out of an alleged scheme to defraud the victim of $1,325,000.00.

In the second new January indictment, venued in Hampton County, Murdaugh was charged with Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, Value $10,000 or More (2 counts); and Computer Crime, Value $10,000 or More (1 count). The indictments arise out of an alleged scheme to defraud the victim of $350,245.08.

In the third new January indictment, venued in Hampton County, Murdaugh was charged with Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, Value $10,000 or More (2 counts); and Computer Crime, Value $10,000 or More (2 counts). The indictments arise out of an alleged scheme to defraud the victim of $398,714.90.

In the first superseding January indictment, venued in Allendale County, in addition to prior charges of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, Value $10,000 or More (2 counts); and Computer Crime, Value $10,000 or More (2 counts), Murdaugh is charged with an additional count of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, Value $10,000 or More. Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, Value $10,000 or More is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine in the discretion of the court. Computer Crime, Value $10,000 or More is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000. The indictments arise out of an alleged scheme to defraud the victims of $200,000, in addition to the $383,056.14 fraud previously indicted.

Altogether, Murdaugh is charged in the new January State Grand Jury Indictments with respect to alleged schemes to defraud victims of $2,273,959.98. When combined with the State Grand Jury Indictments from November and December 2021, there are 15 indictments containing 71 charges alleging a total fraud of $8,492,888.31.

This State Grand Jury investigation has been conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office. The case will be prosecuted by The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

 You can read the indictments here, here, here, and here.