January hearing set for former state Rep. Thad Viers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A former South Carolina House member is expected in court next month as part of a federal money laundering case against him.

Court records show a January 6 hearing has been scheduled for former state Rep. Thad Viers.

The Myrtle Beach Republican has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges including money laundering and fraud. Federal prosecutors say the lawyer laundered money and lied to IRS agents, moving around the assets of a businessman who an insurance company was pursuing for defaulting on a multimillion-dollar paving contract.

Viers faces decades in prison if convicted. He served in the South Carolina House from 2003 until 2012. He was a candidate for the new U.S. House District 7 seat in 2012 before withdrawing after he was charged with stalking a former girlfriend.

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