State Grand Jury Indicts Richard Alexander Murdaugh and Curtis Edward Smith for Criminal Conspiracy and Narcotics; Curtis Edward Smith also Indicted for Money Laundering, Forgery, and Trafficking Methamphetamine

(COLUMBIA, SC) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that the South Carolina State Grand Jury issued a new indictment against Richard Alexander Murdaugh and Curtis Edward Smith. Alex Murdaugh was indicted along with Curtis Edward Smith for two conspiracy counts including a narcotics count related to Oxycodone. Curtis Edward Smith was also indicted for four counts of Money Laundering, three counts of Forgery, Trafficking Methamphetamine 10-28 grams, one count of Unlawful Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, and Possession of Marijuana.

Smith, 62, was not previously indicted by the State Grand Jury. Smith had previously been indicted by the Hampton County Grand Jury on November 4, 2021 for False Claim for Payment, Filing a False Police Report, Conspiracy, and Pointing and Presenting a Firearm at a Person, Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, and Assisted Suicide.  Those allegations related to the events on Old Salkehatchie Road on September 4, 2021.  Smith also had been previously indicted by the Colleton County Grand Jury on November 18, 2021 for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Marijuana.

In Indictment 2022-GS-47-10, venued in Colleton County, the State Grand Jury alleges a Criminal Conspiracy regarding approximately 437 checks totaling approximately $2.4 million that went from Murdaugh to Smith from October 7, 2013 through February 28, 2021. The two were also indicted in an alleged conspiracy regarding the distribution and purchase of Oxycodone. Smith is indicted for four counts of Money Laundering over $100,000 regarding the alleged disposition of the checks. The State Grand Jury also charged Smith with Forgery for allegedly forging endorsements on some of the checks. Smith is also indicted for three other drug offenses, including allegedly trafficking over ten grams of methamphetamine. 

The crimes charged in the indictments carry the following classifications and penalties:

• Criminal Conspiracy is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $5,000
• Money Laundering – Value $100K or More, is a felony punishable by up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount at issue
• Forgery, Value $10K or More, is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a fine in the discretion of the court
• Forgery, Value $10K or Less, is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a fine in the discretion of the court
• Dist. Possess Narcotic – Schedule II, is a felony punishable up to 2 years in prison or a fine up to $500
• Trafficking Methamphetamine, is a felony punishable by 3-10 years in prison and a fine up to $25,000
• Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule II, is a felony punishable by up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine up to $1000
• Simple Possession of Marijuana, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in prison or a fine between $100 and $200

Altogether, through 16 indictments containing 81 charges against Murdaugh, the State Grand Jury has indicted Murdaugh for schemes to defraud victims of $8,492,888.31.

This State Grand Jury investigation is being 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 indictment here.