WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The leader of an organization that promotes business in two South Carolina cities has been accused of stealing public money that was supposed to go toward city-sponsored events.
West Columbia Police charged Richard Dwight Skipper, 51. chief executive of the Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber of Commerce, with four counts of forgery, The State reported.
Police said that in 2018 and 2019, Skipper submitted about $5,150 of fraudulent invoices to the city of West Columbia. Skipper gave false information about spending the money on the Holiday Parade of Lights and West Columbia’s Rhythm on the River Concert Series and had West Columbia reimburse him from its hospitality tax fund, police said.
Skipper was arrested Friday and is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center, court records show. It was unknown if he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Skipper has been in charge of the chamber since February 2018.
“The City of West Columbia and the West Columbia Police Department take the proper use of public funds very seriously. … The misuse of taxpayer dollars is not tolerated in the City of West Columbia and anyone who mishandles public funds will be diligently prosecuted,” the city said in a statement.
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