Acquitted businessman in SC State case found dead in hotel room

One of the men named as a co-conspirator by federal officials in the corruption case against former South Carolina State University board chairman Jonathan Pinson was found dead in an Atlanta hotel over the weekend.

Eric Robinson, 45, was found by a housekeeper Friday around 2 p.m. in his room at the Hilton Garden Inn Stone Crest, according to his attorney, Shaun Kent.

Kent said Robinson last spoke to his wife around 9 p.m.

Kent added that Robinson likely died of a heart attack.

Robinson was acquitted of seven federal charges lobbed against him in the Pinson case. Pinson, meanwhile, was found guilty of 29 charges.

Robinson is survived by his wife and three children.

Services for Robinson will be held in Greenville next Monday.