North Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty in Public Corruption Scheme

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Michelle Stent-Hilton, 56, of Goose Creek, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Michelle Stent-Hilton conspired with former North Charleston City Councilmember Jerome Sydney Heyward and others to pay kickbacks to Heyward in exchange for his support of Stent-Hilton's application on behalf of her non-profit-DEEP SC-for grant money. At the time, Heyward was serving as a member of North Charleston's City Council representing District 5.

In 2022, the City of North Charleston decided to award grants to non-profits with the expectation that the non-profits would work to reduce gun violence in the City. Stent-Hilton applied for a grant through her non-profit, DEEP SC, and agreed to pay Heyward 20% of any money DEEP SC received from the City in exchange for his support and influence as a councilmember. Heyward twice voted to award grant money to DEEP SC and at least one other non-profit without disclosing that he had an agreement with the non-profits to pay him a kickback. Soon after DEEP SC received $100,000 from the City, Stent-Hilton purchased a cashier's check for $20,000. The cashier's check was made payable to Rose Lorenzo, a bookkeeper to whom Heyward directed Stent-Hilton to route the funds. Lorenzo wired the money from Stent-Hilton, as well as one other non-profit, to Heyward's bank account. Stent-Hilton admitted that the kickback was laundered through Lorenzo's account to disguise the nature of the transaction.

Stent-Hilton faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Stent-Hilton after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting the case.

###