Fla. developer to plead in SC State kickback probe

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Florida developer has been charged as part of an alleged kickback scheme involving a former trustee at South Carolina State University.

Court documents filed this week show Richard Zahn is facing a charge of conspiracy to defraud the federal government.

Prosecutors say Zahn owned some land near the Orangeburg school and asked trustee Jonathon Pinson to help him sell it to the university. As a “thank you” gift for his help, prosecutors say the Longwood, Fla., developer told Pinson he would buy him a Porsche SUV.

Pinson was arraigned last month on a federal kickback charge. South Carolina State’s former campus police chief has already pleaded guilty in the case.

Zahn is to appear in court in Charleston on Friday. His attorney would not talk about the case.

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