COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Law Enforcement (SLED) has announced charges against six people tied to what is alleging was a money laundering scheme dating back to August 2021 that targeted credit unions.
Warrants shared from the agency showed the scheme centered on employees at a car dealership in the Midlands region obtaining car loans fraudulently and splitting the funds. The loans obtained through the dealership came from credit unions, according to SLED.
Additional Scams
“SLED’s warrants showed 41-year-old LaKesha Washington of Lexington County, South Carolina, reportedly deposited checks that were made payable to the dealership into her own accounts,” WCNC reported. “She also reportedly falsely claimed she’d inherit $10 million and purchase the dealership from the estate of the previous owner, who died in October 2021. One warrant suggests she diverted about $609,000 to herself between October 2021 and April 2022.
Washington is also accused of buying a 2021 GMC Yukon from CarMax for herself for about $89,000 using funds from the dealership, but she registered the car in her name.”
According to the report, Washington allegedly also purchased a 2021 Chevy Corvette for about $43,000 and gave the car to another employee who was supposedly in on the scheme, disguising it as an employee bonus.
Expanding Scheme
SLED said the scheme expanded to include more people by 2023. Washington and five alleged co-conspirators all now face a slew of charges, WCNC reported.
The remaining suspects include Malik D’Vonde Shropshire; Floyd James Hargrove; Richard J. Washington; Requel Latrice Jones; and Donnie Leon Connor.
