Former South Carolina State Representative and Charleston attorney Marvin Pendarvis, 36, was arraigned in federal court Tuesday. Pendarvis is indicted on 10 charges including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.
Prosecutors allege that between 2022 and 2024, the Charleston-area Democrat negotiated financial settlements for clients but kept the funds for himself. He reportedly deposited over half a million dollars into his law firm's trust account without paying clients. According to the indictment, Pendarvis received at least $532,000 in settlement funds to which he did not pay his clients any portion of the funds.
Pendarvis faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for the wire fraud and money laundering counts. Further, for each count of aggravated identity theft, he faces a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment.
Pendarvis has been released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond.