From the US States Attorney's Office:
Columbia, South Carolina - United
States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that SHELLEY MAE GRAHAM, age 44, of
Cades, South Carolina, ANTHONY HICKSON, age 30, of Olanta, South Carolina, and
TERATA WASHINGTON FLOYD, age 52, of Coward, South Carolina, pled guilty today
in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, to conspiracy to commit wire
fraud and education loan fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code,
Section 371.
United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence,
South Carolina, accepted the pleas and will impose sentences after he has
reviewed the presentence reports which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation
Office.
Evidence
presented at the change of plea hearing established that Graham, Hickson, and
Floyd conspired to make an agreement with other co-defendants to enroll at an
online school to make it appear they would be attending classes.
A
Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) was submitted on: Aril 6,
2010, on behalf of Hickson, June 22, 2010, on behalf of Graham, and June 26,
2010, on behalf of Floyd. Federal Financial Aid was awarded to Graham, Hickson,
and Floyd, and sent to their schools, with the excess funds being sent to
them. They provided their personal information to a co-defendant to be
enrolled in school with the purpose of receiving the money.
Mr. Nettles
stated the maximum penalty the defendants can receive is a fine of $250,000.00
and/or imprisonment for 5 years, plus a special assessment of $100.00.
The case was
investigated by agents of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector
General, and agents of the United States Secret Service. Assistant United
States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the office handled the case.
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