CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — A Charleston County School Board member is facing federal bribery and COVID-19-related fraud charges and could face up to three decades in prison if found guilty.
Kevin Dion Hollinshead, 64, of North Charleston, was indicted on five counts related to his alleged acceptance of a bribe in exchange for his influence and official action as a Charleston County School District Trustee as well as wire fraud and bank fraud connected to pandemic-era relief loans.
The United States Department of Justice alleges that, over this past summer, Hollinshead specifically took the bribe in exchange for him supporting a construction company’s appeal of a failed bid for a construction project. In the indictment, Hollinshead is accused of encouraging ab executive from the company to hire a consultant who could assist them in navigating the process of said appeal.
The consultant, according to federal prosecutors, agreed to kickback some of his consulting fee from the construction company to Hollinshead. He is then accused of using his position on the school board, knowing he would receive this payout, to influence the appeal process in favor of the construction company…