Michelle Stent-Hilton, a 56-year-old resident of Goose Creek, has pleaded guilty to several federal charges including conspiracy to commit bribery involving programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, bribery with respect to federally funded programs, and money laundering.
According to evidence from the investigation, Stent-Hilton worked with former North Charleston City Councilmember Jerome Sydney Heyward and others in a scheme where kickbacks were paid to Heyward. The payments were made in exchange for Heyward’s support of grant applications submitted by Stent-Hilton on behalf of her non-profit organization, DEEP SC. At the time these actions took place, Heyward was serving as a city councilmember representing District 5 in North Charleston.
In 2022, North Charleston established a grant program aimed at supporting non-profits working to reduce gun violence within the city. Stent-Hilton applied for one of these grants through DEEP SC and agreed to pay Heyward 20% of any funds awarded to her organization by the city. In return for this arrangement, Heyward used his position as councilmember to support DEEP SC’s application and voted twice in favor of awarding grant money both to DEEP SC and at least one other non-profit. He did not disclose his agreement with these organizations regarding kickback payments.
After DEEP SC received $100,000 from the City of North Charleston, Stent-Hilton purchased a cashier’s check for $20,000 made payable to Rose Lorenzo. Lorenzo served as a bookkeeper who was instructed by Heyward to receive the funds on his behalf. The money from Stent-Hilton—and another non-profit—was then wired by Lorenzo into Heyward’s bank account. Stent-Hilton admitted that this process was used specifically to disguise the nature of the transaction.
Stent-Hilton could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts. She also faces potential fines up to $250,000, restitution payments, and three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment imposed. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted her guilty plea; sentencing will occur after review of a report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
The FBI Columbia Field Office and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division conducted the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting.
