Loris man charged with embezzling from charity
Todd Keith Massey, II
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
An investigation into nearly $70,000 missing from a Giving Hope Gardens bank account has resulted in the arrest of the non-profit group’s treasurer, who previously held the same post for the City of Loris and ran once for the City Council.
Todd Keith Massey, II, of Saint James Extension, Loris, surrendered himself Monday morning and was served with warrants obtained on Dec. 5 by Det. Joseph Stevens of the Loris Police Department.
Massey, who will be 39 this week, was charged with embezzlement of public funds valued at $10,000 or more, six counts of forgery with a value less than $10,000, and forgery with no dollar amount involved.
He is accused of taking the funds by forging checks and online banking processes, Lt. Larry Williams said Monday.
“This situation has profoundly impacted our small nonprofit and out South Carolina community,” a statement from the non-profit released Monday said.
Missing funds totaled $68,794.36, a warrant said, money the Giving Hope Gardens statement said was “intended for our operating costs and grants raised through donations and fundraising efforts.”
Investigation
Massey has previously served as Treasurer for the City of Loris and for Proving Hope VA, an unrelated non-profit whose founder admitted guild in a money laundering scheme earlier this year, and faces up to ten years in prison and a hefty fine when he is sentenced next February.
A Giving Hope Gardens (GHG) official, not fully identified in the report, told police on Oct. 18 that nearly $70,000 was missing from an account at Anderson Brothers Bank, a report by Patrol Sgt. Steven Brode said. While the account balance should have been nearly $70,000, the GHG official said about $1,500 was showing in the account.
Some of the missing funds were received through grants, the GHG official told police. She also told police that “the suspect had made two deposits reimbursing some of the funds,” the report said. One of those deposits was for $21,000, the other for $2,000.
Most of the checks were made payable to “KTM,” the report said, at least one to cash, one to Walmart, and the biggest check for $28,000 to Allstar Pest.
Massey is the registered agent for All Star Pest & Termite Control, LLC, a limited liability company established on July 22, South Carolina Secretary of State online records show.
In addition to the $28,000 check on Sept. 3, the bank records showed an online account transfer to Allstar Pest for $7,000 on Oct. 3.
In total the alleged embezzlements took place between June 7 and Oct. 4, the warrants said. Massey became the Giving Hope Gardens treasurer in May, LPD Chief Gary Buley said.
See more on this story and the full statement from Giving Hope Gardens in this week’s Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.
