Prosecutors request receiver in SC silver scheme

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Prosecutors want a receiver to sift through the assets of a former Anderson County councilman accused of running a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles has asked a judge to choose someone to take control of Ronnie Wilson’s assets and come up with a fair way to distribute them.

Wilson was charged with mail fraud after authorities said he took millions of dollars from investors but never actually bought them the silver bullion he promised.

Prosecutors say more than 900 people invested about $90 million with Wilson, who altered receipts to increase the precious metal’s purchase price when a customer went to cash it in so he could keep the scheme going.

Wilson has been released on bond. His attorney did not immediately return a message Monday.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP