SC grand jury issues superseding indictments for and Alex Murdaugh, Russell Laffitte and Corey Fleming

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson says the State Grand Jury issued superseding indictments with new charges for former banker Russell Lucius Laffitte, along with suspended attorneys Corey Fleming and Alex Murdaugh. Officials say these indictments bring 21 new charges agains Laffitte, five new charges against Fleming and four new charges against Murdaugh.

Officials say the first new indictment comes from Hampton County, where Murdaugh and Laffitte are both charged with one count of criminal conspiracy. Authorities allege they conspired to misappropriate funds to Murdaugh which were being held by Laffitte in trust as a conservator for Natarsha Thomas at Palmetto State Bank. This indictment also includes charges of breach of trust with fraudulent intent value $10,000 or more and computer crime value more than $10,000 for Laffitte.

Authorities say the second new indictment is also venued in Hampton County, and charges Murdaugh and Laffitte with one count of criminal conspiracy for allegedly misappropriating $309,581.46 in funds to Murdaugh. Officials say Laffitte held the funds in trust as a conservator for Hakeem Pinckney and his estate at Palmetto State Bank. Officials say Laffitte is also charged with computer crime value $10,000 or more and breach of trust with fraudulent intent value more than $10,000. This indictment also charges both Murdaugh and Fleming with one count of criminal conspiracy. The indictment alleges they misappropriated $89,133.44 in funds to Murdaugh that Fleming held in trust as attorney for Pamela Pinckney. Fleming is also charged with breach of trust with fraudulent intent, value more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 and breach of trust with fraudulent intent, value less than $2,000. Authorities say these charges come in connection with Fleming’s alleged use of $8,078.46 for personal use which was held in trust for Pinckney. Investigators say this was used to pay for Fleming to take himself, Murdaugh and another attorney on a private plane to the 2012 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Finally, this indictment individually charges Fleming with breach of trust with fraudulent intent value more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 for allegedly misappropriating $4,560.00 to Murdaugh from funds Fleming held as attorney for Pamela Pinckney under the false guise of unspecified case expenses.

The third indictment, from Allendale County, charges Murdaugh and Laffitte with one count of criminal conspiracy for allegedly misappropriating $1,172,945.76 in funds that Laffitte controlled for Palmetto State Bank. Investigators say this was done, in part, so Murdaugh could pay back loans Laffitte issued to him from clients in an unrelated case Laffitte served as a fiduciary for.  This indictment also accuses Laffitte of aiding and abetting Murdaugh, charging Laffitte with 12 counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent value more than $10,000.

According to authorities, Murdaugh was suspended from law practice by the South Carolina Supreme Court on September 8, 2021. He was previously indicted on accusations of a scheme to commit suicide and commit insurance fraud. The state indictments on Murdaugh now total 79 charges for schemes to defraud victims of $8,492,888.31. He is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Officials say Fleming was suspended from practicing law on October 8. Authorities say he has been indicted for schemes to defraud victims out of $3,725,203.85.

According to officials, the Grand Jury has indicted Laffitte for schemes to defraud victims out of $1,832,772.30.