Former Latta Mayor Charged with Defrauding SSA

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that former Latta Mayor Alan L. Berry, Age 57, and Harold J. Kornblut, age 56, both of Latta, South Carolina, were charged in a federal Indictment with theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.

Federal agents allege that while Berry was collecting Social Security disability payments from 2004 to 2008, he was also receiving disqualifying salary income as the Mayor of Latta, and from his employment with co-defendant Kornblut at a tax service. Agents charge that Berry directed that his City and tax service paychecks be issued in his wife’s name, so that he could continue to collect disability. Kornblut is charged for his role in knowingly issuing the tax service checks to further the fraud.

The maximum penalty Berry and Kornblut could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 10 years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Social Security Administration and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.