Federal Grand Jury Indictments

Former Bank Employee Charged with Embezzlement. April Adams, age 39, of Allendale, was charged in a three-count indictment with embezzlement and attempted arson, violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 656 and 844(i). The maximum penalty April Adams could receive on the embezzlement charge is 30 years’ imprisonment and $1,000,000 in fines. On the attempted arson counts, Adams faces between five to 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Dean Eichelberger of the Columbia office for prosecution.

Man Charged with Selling Counterfeit Movies and Music. Benjamin Franklin Ashford, age 57, of Ridgeway, was charged in a two-count indictment with copyright infringement, a violation of Title 17, United States Code, Section 506(a)(1) and Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2 and 2319(b)(1). The indictment stems from two incidents in which Ashford is alleged to have sold numerous counterfeit music CDs and movies. The maximum penalty Benjamin Franklin Ashford could receive is up to five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Dean Eichelberger of the Columbia office for prosecution.

North Augusta Man Charged with Stealing Government Funds. Jack Dempsey Wahl, age 53, of North Augusta, was charged in a one-count indictment with theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. Wahl allegedly failed to report his mothers death and continued to receive widow’s benefits from the Veteran’s Administration. The maximum penalty Jack Dempsey Wahl could receive is up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Dean Eichelberger of the Columbia office for prosecution.

Midlands Man Charged With Threatening Federal Officials. Dalton Mackenzee, age 45, was charged in a three-count indictment with threatening two employees of the United States Federal Probation office, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 115(a)(1)(B). Mackenzee was on supervised release from a prior conviction for threatening others at the time of the alleges threats in this case. The maximum penalty Dalton Mackenzee could receive on each count is 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Dean Eichelberger of the Columbia office for prosecution.

Sumter Woman Charged With Aggravated Identity Theft and Wire Fraud. Jessica Cobia, age 32, of Sumter, South Carolina, was charged in a two-count indictment with five counts of mail fraud, eight counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and five counts of aggravated identity theft, violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1343, 1344, and 1028A, respectively. The maximum penalty Jessica Cobia could receive on the wire and mail fraud counts is up to 20 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine. Bank fraud carries up to 30 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000. Aggravated identity theft carries a consecutive sentence of two year. The indictment alleges that Cobia used the identity of another person to open bank accounts. She then caused retirement checks for that other person to be deposited into these accounts and converted the money to her own use. The Indictment also alleges that Cobia used the other person’s identity in connection with applications for a car loan. The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service, and it is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Dean Eichelberger of the Columbia office for prosecution.

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