FORMER DSS FINANCE DIRECTOR INDICTED

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated today that former Department of Social Services Finance Director Paul Timothy Moore, age 61, of Columbia, and five other individuals were charged in federal Indictments with theft of federal program funds, mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy, for their respective roles in an alleged scheme to embezzle more than $5.2 million dollars from DSS.

The Indictment against Moore alleges that he used his position as the agency’s Finance Director to authorize the issuance of hundreds of DSS checks between May 2004 and October 2008, in the approximate average amount of $7,000.00 each. The checks were made payable to names allegedly provided by a co-conspirator who recruited the named individuals to cash the checks and split the proceeds.

Five other people were likewise indicted for having cashed some of the checks and /or having recruited others into the scheme: Herbert McKie, age 27, Tyra L. Goodson, age 36, Nova Kathleen Johnson, age 40, and Sandra Denease Smith, age 45, all of Columbia; and Calandra Fabary Thomas, age 38, of Aiken.

Moore remains in federal custody.

The maximum possible penalty for theft of federal program funds and conspiracy is ten years and a fine of $250,000.00; mail and wire fraud each carry a maximum possible sentence of 20 years and a $250,000.00 fine.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case is being investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and SLED, and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney Debbie Barbier of the Columbia office for prosecution.

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