Bishopville man pleads guilty in cross-country wire fraud case

Six people, including a Bishopville native, entered guilty pleas regarding accusations of mail, wire and bank fraud, according to state law officials.

Eric Wilson, 48, of Bishopville, pleaded guilty to committing mail, wire and bank fraud involving counterfeit American Express traveler's checks on March 29 while the other five suspects pleaded guilty Friday.

The other suspects - Derrick Nelson, 42, of Timmonsville; Whitney Magazine, 25, of Jacksonville, Florida; and Brittany Duncan, 25, Tanisha Bynoe, 30, and Errol Mack, 29, all of Brooklyn, New York - face the same charges as Wilson.

An investigation began when the Secret Service received a report that Wilson was selling counterfeit traveler's checks while he was living in Florence, states a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

Wilson and his co-defendants are accused of selling, purchasing, spending and mailing counterfeit traveler's checks throughout the United States.

Further investigation revealed the checks were related to a 2007 investigation in New York where American Express lost more than $20 million because of counterfeit traveler's checks, states the release.

All of the defendants were caught passing counterfeit traveler's checks in Columbia and other areas.

U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon said the maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit mail, wire or bank fraud is 20 years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 fine.

Note: Booking photos are usually not available in federal cases.