Federal Grand Jury Indictments

Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000

United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned Indictments against the following:

Seven Individuals Indicted for Conspiring to Alter Checks
Cornelius N.  Mattress, age 42, of Pendleton, South Carolina; Karissa L. Miller, age 24, of Anderson, South Carolina; Sherry D. Lyons, age 43, of Abbeville, South Carolina; Erica R. Floyd, age 24, of Abbeville, South Carolina; Rosalynn D. Crawford, age 35, of Abbeville, South Carolina; Ruby A.  Adams, age 53, of Anderson, South Carolina; and Stacy S. Paul, age 40, of Anderson, South Carolina were charged in a 1-count indictment with conspiracy, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  The maximum penalty each defendant could receive is 5 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Greenville Resident Indicted on Child Pornography
Richard Wallace Heald, III, age 25, of Greenville, South Carolina, was charged in a 2-count indictment.  Richard Wallace Heald, III, was charged with Possession of Child Pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B) and Receiving or Distribution of Child Pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2).  The maximum penalty Heald could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.  This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Greenwood Man Indicted for Delay of Mail by a Postal Employee
Stephen J. Ritchie, Jr., age 32, of Greenwood, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count Indictment with delay of mail by a postal employee, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703.  The maximum penalty Ritchie could receive is five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00.  The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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