Ex-SC Hospitality worker pleads guilty

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A former South Carolina Hospitality Association employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling about $500,000 from the group and prosecutors said had a sexual relationship with the director who killed himself.

Rachel Duncan was in federal court in Columbia on Wednesday to enter the plea to wire fraud and tax evasion charges.

Prosecutors said they found sexually-oriented photos on Tom Sponseller’s computer showing him with Duncan. But prosecutors said there is no indication he received any of the $480,000.

She faces up to 23 years in prison and $350,000 in fines. Sentencing is expected in June.

Prosecutors say she used much of the money for online gambling.

Sponseller killed himself in February. Police say he left a suicide note detailing his despair over Duncan’s apparent misdeeds.

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