Williamsburg County sheriff indicted for fraud

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Williamsburg County sheriff has been indicted after prosecutors say he provided a man who ran a credit repair business with fake police reports.

A grand jury Wednesday handed up the indictment against Sheriff Michael Johnson. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Prosecutors say Johnson created the fake police reports so customers of the credit repair business could claim their overdue bills were caused by identity fraud. The indictment against Johnson estimates the scheme was used in over 130 credit reports.

Johnson’s lawyer issued a statement saying he looks forward to his day in court.

Johnson is the sixth sheriff in South Carolina’s 46 counties to face criminal charges in the past four years.