3 plead guilty in scheme to defraud SC air base

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — Three men have pleaded guilty as part of a scheme to defraud Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter through construction contracts.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said Wednesday that James Autry Clemens of Johnston, Larry Baker of Cameron and Steven Crandall of Salisbury, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to theft of government funds.

Nettles says Clemens has also pleaded guilty to money laundering.

Prosecutors say the men inflated costs of construction projects by submitting invoices that falsely claimed additional workers and resources were used to complete construction jobs on the base, then split the payments among themselves.

The men will be sentenced later. Baker and Crandall face possible 10-year sentences, while Clemens faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.