Simpsonville, Greer Men Indicted, Arraigned on Federal Charges

Two Upstate men were arraigned Thursday following their three-count indictment on federal corruption charges in violation of the Hobbs Act, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Columbia said.

Jonathon N. Pinson, 42, of Simpsonville, and Eric Robinson, 42, of Greer, were arraigned in federal court in Columbia. Magistrate Judge Joseph R. McCrorey set a $25,000 secured bond for Pinson, and a $15,000 secured bond for Robinson. 

The indictment charges Pinson and Robinson in count one with conspiring to violate the federal Hobbs Act "by affecting and attempting to affect interstate commerce by extortion under color of official right," as Pinson is the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of South Carolina State University (SCSU), a public institution, said U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles.

A public official commits extortion under "the color of right" when he obtains a payment to which he is not entitled knowing that it was made in exchange for official acts.

Pinson and Robinson were also charged in count two with a violation of the Hobbs Act involving an alleged “kickback” scheme in connection with the 2011 SCSU Homecoming concert, Nettles said, without providing details.

Count three charges Pinson with further violation of the Hobbs Act and alleged a scheme in which Pinson would receive a Porsche Cayenne in exchange for his assistance in arranging the purchase of property known as "Sportsman’s Retreat" by SCSU.         

The maximum penalty Pinson and Robinson could receive is 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a special assessment of $100 on each count in which they are charged, Nettles said.

Nettles stated: “South Carolina State University and its students are the victims of the crimes charged in this indictment, not the target…. Rather, this indictment focuses on two individuals who are alleged to have used their positions and relationships to prey on the university and line their pockets at the university’s expense.”

Nettles stated that other indictments and charges are expected in connection with this ongoing investigation.

Nettles added that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI, SLED, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, the IRS.