Murdaugh Good friend Charged With Aiding Insurance coverage Fraud Scheme

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A longtime buddy of South Carolina legal professional Alex Murdaugh now faces 18 costs involving the theft of greater than $3 million in insurance coverage cash from the household of Murdaugh’s lifeless housekeeper, in accordance with newly unsealed court docket paperwork.

An indictment made public Wednesday accuses Cory Fleming of working with Murdaugh to defraud the sons of Gloria Satterfield, who died following a fall on the Murdaugh residence in 2018, by suing Murdaugh on behalf of the sons however diverting the ensuing insurance coverage payouts to Murdaugh and himself.

Fleming additionally wrote himself checks from Satterfield’s property to pay for his personal mortgage, bank card debt, tax funds, video video games and different purchases, prosecutors mentioned.

The sons mentioned in a lawsuit that they by no means bought any of the cash. They mentioned Murdaugh satisfied them at their mom’s funeral to make use of Fleming as their legal professional and sue him for wrongful demise, with out disclosing that Fleming had been his faculty roommate and godfather to not less than one in every of Murdaugh’s sons.

Based on the most recent indictment, Fleming, 53, selected not inform Satterfield’s sons about two settlements he secured from insurers. He as a substitute knowingly moved cash from each agreements to a fraudulent checking account Murdaugh had named equally to that of an organization that handles settlements, authorities mentioned.

Fleming beforehand mentioned he was serving to the sons’ new legal professionals and maintained he “was not a keen participant in Mr. Murdaugh’s scheme however was used,” in accordance with a joint assertion between Fleming and the sons’ attorneys in October.

Deborah Barbier, an legal professional for Fleming, mentioned in a press release that Fleming was “deeply disenchanted” by the fees. Barbier mentioned Fleming regarded ahead to defending himself in court docket and maintained her consumer was “yet one more casualty of the host of crimes perpetuated by Alex Murdaugh.”

Fleming plans to show himself in earlier than a digital bond listening to scheduled for Thursday, mentioned Robert Kittle, a spokesman for the state legal professional basic’s workplace.

Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, attorneys for the Satterfield sons, mentioned Wednesday that the grand jury clearly didn’t consider Fleming’s protection that he was yet one more of Murdaugh’s victims: “Justice could transfer gradual however when it strikes it comes crashing down like a tidal wave,” they mentioned in a press release.

Grand jurors additionally issued 4 new costs for Murdaugh. Murdaugh at the moment faces 75 state costs, amongst them belief, forgery, cash laundering, laptop crime and now felony conspiracy with Fleming, altogether accusing him of stealing practically $8.5 million meant for victims of wrongful demise and insurance coverage settlements. He’s additionally accused of making an attempt to rearrange his personal demise so his surviving son may accumulate a $10 million life insurance coverage coverage.

Murdaugh, 53, has been jailed since October. A decide set his bail at $7 million and refused to cut back it, at the same time as Murdaugh’s lawyer argued his financial institution accounts had been seized in civil lawsuits and he may barely afford to purchase underwear on the Richland County jail. He has pinned his issues on a years-long drug dependancy.

His authorized troubles had been revealed after his spouse Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, had been killed in a capturing on the household’s residence in June. Murdaugh’s legal professionals insisted he had nothing to do with it, calling on investigators to work as arduous to search out their killers as they’re making an attempt to unravel Murdaugh’s funds.

Murdaugh’s great-grandfather, grandfather and father had been all elected prosecutors in Hampton County, the place his household legislation agency bore the Murdaugh moniker till lately. The South Carolina Supreme Courtroom has suspended Murdaugh and Fleming from working towards legislation within the state.

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About Michelle Liu


Liu is a corps member for the Related Press/Report for America Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points.

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