SC Fifth Circuit Solicitor charged with fraud, theft of public funds

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Dan Johnson, the Fifth Circuit Solicitor of South Carolina, has been charged with wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy, and theft of federal funds.

According to a federal indictment filed Tuesday, Johnson and a Solicitor's Office employee, Nicole Holland, were each issued Bank of America credit cards to use on law enforcement-related expenses. However, the indictment states that Johnson and Holland each used the credit cards to pay for personal expenses including "travel, vacations, romantic liaisons, medical expenses, and double-reimbursements for military training."

An August audit concluded, among other things, the office had no policies in place to govern credit card spending.

Johnson's office also received federal funds up to $10,000 each year from 2011 to 2018, which came from a drug forfeiture program and other federal grants. Both Johnson and Holland stole at least $5,000 from these funds each in 2016 and 2017.

Johnson has served as the Fifth Circuit Solicitor since 2010. He was defeated in June's primary by Byron Gipson.

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