Greenwood County woman pleads guilty to tax evasion

A Greenwood County woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to tax evasion and other charges.

Shelley C. Strickland, 55, of Greenwood, was employed by First Baptist Church of Ware Shoals from 2018-24. SCDOR agents arrested Strickland in March 2026 after an investigation revealed that she embezzled more than $445,000 from the church and converted it to her personal use over that period. Strickland did not include that money as income on her South Carolina Individual Income Tax returns for those years. As a result, she evaded at least $29,626 in State Income Tax.

Circuit Judge William McMaster III sentenced Strickland on all her charges to a total of 25 years in prison, suspended upon five years home incarceration, followed by five years of probation. McMaster also ordered Strickland to repay any stolen money as well as the Individual Income Tax she owes the state.

If you suspect or know of anyone or a business that has committed a state tax crime, such as tax evasion or tax fraud, contact SCDOR Criminal Investigation and submit a Tax Violation Complaint Form (CID-27) to [email protected] or mail it to:

South Carolina Department of Revenue
Attn: Fraud Advisor
2070 Northbrook Blvd, Suite B7
North Charleston, SC 29406

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MEDIA INQUIRIES:

SCDOR Public Information Office
[email protected]