Federal Grand Jury Indictments

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

North Charleston Man Indicted for Tax Fraud.  Benjamin Bligen, age 40, of North Charleston, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count Indictment with Fraudulent Tax Return Preparation, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206.  The maximum penalty that Bligen could receive is 3 years imprisonment.  The case was investigated by agents of the Internal Revenue Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.

Mexican Man Indicted for Immigration Offense.  Jose Prado-Palma, age 40, of Mexico, was charged with the Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326.  The maximum penalty that Prado-Palma could receive is 2 years imprisonment.  The case was investigated by agents of ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.

North Charleston Woman Charged with Theft of Mail by a Postal Employee. Regina Fludd, age 35, of North Charleston, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count Indictment with Theft of Mail by a Postal Employee in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709.  The maximum sentenced that Fludd could receive is 5 years imprisonment.  The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service, and it is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.

Walterboro Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge.  Quentin John Fishburne, a/k/a “Quinton John Fishburne”, a/k/a “Q”, age 37, of Walterboro, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count indictment.  Fishburne was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §922(g).  The maximum penalty Fishburne could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Walterboro Police Department and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Chris Schoen and Special Assistant United States Attorney Carra Henderson of the Charleston office for prosecution.

Folly Road Bank Robber Federally Indicted.  Quinton Allen Manigault, age 30, of Wando, South Carolina, was charged in a 2-count indictment arising from the March 27, 2018 robbery of the Pinnacle Bank on Folly Road.  Manigault is charged with armed bank robbery, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §2113(a) and (d) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §924(c).  The maximum penalty Manigault could receive is life in prison and a fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Charleston Police Department and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Chris Schoen 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.

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