4 indicted for wire fraud and counterfeiting currency

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 13-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging four individuals in a wire fraud conspiracy involving counterfeit currency.

• Octiva Rasheem Moorer, 28, of Orangeburg, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of wire fraud, one count of manufacturing counterfeit currency and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
• Brittney Kay Pringle, 38, of Summerville, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud. Pringle was an employee with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services at the time of the conduct.
• Amy Chavis, 34, of Marion, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and four counts of passing counterfeit currency.
• Priscilla Sweeper, 50, of Orangeburg, was charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of manufacturing counterfeit currency.

The indictment alleges that Moorer coordinated a scheme to manufacture counterfeit currency by bleaching $10 bills and printing the image of a $50 bill onto the face of the bleached bill. Moorer and Chavis then loaded the counterfeit bills onto various Cash App accounts at Dollar General stores throughout South Carolina. The defendants then transferred the money to each other via Cash App.

Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year term of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.