Oct. 25--Twenty-four residents of Murphy Village in North Augusta entered into guilty plea agreements Tuesday to the charge of criminal conspiracy.
United States Attorney Beth Drake stated in a release Tuesday that 24 residents, all of North Augusta, pleaded guilty in federal court in Columbia to criminal conspiracy. They are: John U. Carroll, Ann Carroll, Courtney Carroll, Jay G. Carroll, Mary C. Carroll, Mary Rita Carroll, Ralph Carroll, Mary Gorman, Tina Gorman, Thomas Martin Mack, Rachel McNally, Billy O'Hara, Jim O'Hara, Winnie O'Hara, Hugh Riley, Melissa Riley, Tracy Riley, Betty Sherlock, M. Lisa Carroll Sherlock, Michael P. Sherlock, Patricia Sherlock, Patrick Sherlock, Sandra Sherlock and Ann F. Sherlock.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs, of Columbia, accepted the guilty pleas and will impose sentences after she has reviewed the presentence reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office, the release states.
Each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that the defendants and others agreed to commit an array of criminal activities to make money and further this criminal conspiracy, according to the release.
Drake said this conspiracy includes both residents of an "insular group" in North Augusta and certain outsiders -- such as car salesmen, insurance agents and tax preparers. The insular group describes themselves as Irish Travelers, and live in a defined geographic location, have unique language and traditions, and are funded largely by the illegal activities, the release states.
The Travelers and certain outsiders agreed to commit various types of crimes that included mail and wire fraud related to insurance applications, loan applications and government benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid and tax refunds, according to the release.
Additionally, certain individuals participated in the interstate transportation of stolen items, the release states.
Moreover, money that came into the conspiracy as a result of these criminal activities was laundered and structured to avoid reporting requirements, the release states.
"Over the past three years, agents from numerous local, state and federal agencies worked together to conduct a joint investigation into this criminal enterprise in North Augusta," Drake said in the release. "(Tuesday), 24 people accepted responsibility in federal court for their respective roles in this conspiracy. With (Tuesday's) round of guilty pleas, that brings the total to approximately 50 people held accountable to date. This investigation and subsequent convictions should serve as both a reminder and notice to all that if you commit fraud, you will be brought to justice."
The case was investigated by agents of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, the USDA Office of Inspector General-Investigations, the Postal Inspector's Office, the South Carolina Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Unit, the Second Circuit Solicitor's Office, Aiken County Sheriff's Office and South Carolina Department of Social Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim May and Jay Richardson of the Columbia office are prosecuting the case.
Tripp Girardeau is the crime and courts reporter with the Aiken Standard. Follow him on Twitter at @trippgirardeau.
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