Federal Grand Jury Indictments

Columbia, South Carolina----United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Charleston, South Carolina, returned Indictment(s) against the following:

Former Town of Kiawah Officials Indicted for Wire Fraud. Tumiko Rucker, age 42, of Johns Island, S.C., and Harrison Kenneth Gunnells, age 59, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., were charged in a 1-count Indictment with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1344.  The maximum penalty that Rucker and Gunnells could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.

Georgia Man Indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and Possession of a Gun by a Convicted Felon. Mariel Watson, age 28, of Columbus, Georgia, was charged in a 2-count Indictment with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2250 and 922.  The maximum penalty that Watson could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.

Man Indicted for Immigration Offense.  Luis Rivera-Perez, age 34, of Mexico, was charged with the Illegal Reentry of a Felon, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326.  The maximum penalty that Rivera-Perez could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the ICE - Homeland Security Investigations and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.

Man Indicted for Immigration Offense.  Cesar Antonio Zepahua-Rodriguez, age 33, of Mexico, was charged with the Illegal Reentry of a Felon, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326.  The maximum penalty that Zepahua-Rodriguez could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the ICE - Homeland Security Investigations and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.

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

#####