ORANGEBURG, SC (WIS) -
Former South
Carolina State Board of Trustees chairman Jonathan Pinson's legal team wants a
delay in the federal conspiracy case against him. Pinson, his business partner,
and former SC State Chief of Police Michael Bartley have been indicted on
federal financial kickback charges.
Pinson's attorney, Jim Griffin, asked the
federal judge for the delay last week. Tuesday, the judge granted Griffin and
Pinson the delay because the evidence in the case, "is voluminous and that the
case is exceedingly complex in nature," according to the order. The FBI spent
four months listening in on and recording cell phone conversations from
Pinson's cell phone.
Pinson's trial is now set for October.
The delay, according to the court, would allow Pinson's team more time to
prepare for trial and new charges.
The order indicates that federal
prosecutors intend to file additional charges against Pinson sometime next
month.
According to
prosecutors, from 2009 through late 2011, Pinson solicited various
"kickbacks" in return for agreements to use his official position to
benefit people who agreed to provide items of value and money to him.
In an eight-page federal
indictment unsealed Wednesday morning, federal prosecutors say Pinson and his
"close personal friend" Eric Robinson violated the Hobbs Act, which
prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or
foreign commerce. The statute is frequently used in connection with cases
involving public corruption, commercial disputes, and corruption directed at
members of labor unions.
Prosecutors say
Pinson and Robinson worked together to illegally secure a contract for WE
Entertainment, a concert promotions business Robinson was involved with, to
manage SC State's 2011 Homecoming concert. In return, Robinson and WE
Entertainment agreed to provide Pinson with a kickback, according to
prosecutors. The indictment did not state what the alleged kickback was.
The concert was paid
for by SCSU through fees charged to students. In addition, the university
received more than $10,000 in federal funds during the time periods relevant to
the indictment.
Pinson is also
accused of extorting a $100,000 Porsche Cayenne from a Florida businessman in
return for using his influence to arrange the university's purchase of a
property in Orangeburg County called the "Sportsman's Retreat."
Robinson and Pinson
used cellular telephones and made trips to Florida and Georgia for the purposes
of the conspiracy, according to the indictment. Pinson, according to
prosecutors, also took at least one trip to Florida in a private jet.
Prosecutor said he wanted SC State to pay $3 million for the tract.
The FBI says wire
taps between July and November, 2011 helped to catch Pinson devising the land
scheme.
In February, SC
State's former Chief of Police Michael Bartley pleaded guilty in Charleston to
conspiracy.
Bartley has agreed to
cooperate with prosecutors in Pinson's case.
Prosecutors said he
confessed to receiving a payment of $30,000 and an ATV in return for his
promotion of the university's purchase of the "Sportsman's retreat."
Bartley, according to prosecutors, was a friend of the Florida businessman.
Bartley was one of
eight university employees fired in February of 2012 during what was
characterized as an internal investigation. At the time, the university did not
discuss who was fired or for what reasons.
He is free on $10k
bond and will be sentenced on an undetermined date. Bartley faces 5 years in prison
and a $250k fine if convicted.
Pinson was released
on $25,000 bond Thursday afternoon after pleading not guilty in Columbia.
Robinson was released on $15,000 bond.
Pinson joined the SC
State's Board of Trustees in 2005. He was elected chairman in 2009, but
relinquished his chairmanship on February, 2012 to devote more time to his
family and his business. He continued serving as a trustee until December,
2012.
"South Carolina
State University and its students are the victims of the crime charged in this
Information, not the target," said United States Attorney Bill
Nettles." This investigation does not target South Carolina State
University. Rather, this Information focuses on an individual who used his
position and relationships in an effort to line his pockets at the University's
expense."
Nettles said other
charges are expected in connection with this ongoing investigation.
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Former SC State Board of Trustees chairman Jonathan Pinson
