SOUTH CAROLINA (AP) – A former South Carolina legislator is facing federal charges, accused of orchestrating a scheme to defraud his legal clients.
On Wednesday, a federal grand jury brought forth an indictment against Marvin Pendarvis, a Democrat and practicing attorney, charging him with ten counts, including wire fraud, identity theft, and money laundering.
Federal authorities allege that between 2022 and 2024, Pendarvis misled his clients by negotiating settlements without informing them of the money received. Instead, while serving as a representative for the Charleston area, he is accused of keeping the funds for himself or distributing smaller amounts than originally settled.
Prosecutors claim that Pendarvis deposited over $500,000 into his law firm’s trust fund account, where none of the money was subsequently disbursed to his clients.
Attempts to reach Pendarvis for comment on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Last year, Pendarvis had his law license suspended after allegations surfaced from a former client accusing him of forging a signature to settle a lawsuit without consent. The state Supreme Court’s suspension order didn’t specify the reasons, but the former client, whose initials align with a victim named in the recent indictment, alleged Pendarvis sent texts urging him not to pursue legal action over the forgery claim.
“Let’s handle this (expletive). No need to try and hurt me man. I can help you,” Pendarvis wrote Lewis in text messages filed with the state lawsuit, which is still pending.
First elected in a special election in 2017, he won three full terms before resigning from office about four months after the suspension of his law license.
According to court records, Pendarvis is slated to appear in federal court on Nov. 18.
