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Suspended North Charleston councilman pleads not guilty to corruption

Suspended North Charleston councilman Mike A. Brown pleads not guilty to federal corruption investigation. March 11, 2025.
City of North Charleston
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Suspended North Charleston councilman Mike A. Brown pleads not guilty to federal corruption charges. March 11, 2025.

Former councilman Mike A. Brown pleads not guilty in a wide ranging, federal corruption investigation even as former, fellow councilmembers accept plea agreements in exchange for their cooperation.

A now suspended North Charleston city councilman and three others pleaded not guilty in federal court in Charleston Tuesday for their alleged roles in a corruption case the FBI says resulted from a year-long investigation.

A judge set bond for Mike A. Brown and three associates on charges ranging from conspiracy, bribery, kickbacks and wire fraud.

Mike A. Brown

Authorities say Brown accepted bribes from a lobbyist in exchange for his vote to rezone property for a boat manufacturer.

Former, fellow councilman Jerome Heyward and a lobbyist for the boat maker, Aaron Hicks, have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the rezoning scheme and promised to cooperate with authorities.

Hason "Tory" Fields

Also, pleading not guilty, is another consultant for the boat company, Hason “Tory” Fields. Authorities say he paid a cash bribe to former councilman Sandino Moses in exchange for his support to rezone. Moses has already accepted a plea agreement.

Michelle Stent-Hilton

Nonprofit leader Michelle Stent-Hilton pleaded not guilty Tuesday in another scheme authorities say Heyward orchestrated, using his position to secure $100,00 grants for two nonprofits in exchange for kickbacks.

Rose Lorenzo

Hilton is charged with conspiracy, money laundering and wire fraud. She’s accused of funneling money through Rose Lorenzo who runs a financial business and has also pleaded not guilty.

The second nonprofit founder, Donavan Moten, has accepted responsibility, again in exchange for assisting in the investigation.

The FBI says in all eight people are involved. They've listened in on phone conversations as well as recorded conversations after an unnamed businessman turned Heyward in. Many of the charges carry a 20-year sentence.

Heyward and Moses resigned as part of their plea agreements. Brown was suspended by the governor after his indictment. A special election will be held May 27th to fill their now vacant North Charleston city council seats.

Victoria Hansen is our Lowcountry connection covering the Charleston community, a city she knows well. She grew up in newspaper newsrooms and has worked as a broadcast journalist for more than 20 years. Her first reporting job brought her to Charleston where she covered local and national stories like the Susan Smith murder trial and the arrival of the Citadel’s first female cadet.