More Legislators in S. Carolina Indicted by U.S.

COLUMBIA, S.C. —  A federal grand jury on Friday indicted five more legislators on charges involving bribery and drugs, bringing to 10 the number of lawmakers charged as a result of an FBI investigation of the South Carolina Statehouse.

In addition, a registered lobbyist was indicted on a drug possession charge.

The indictments grew out of an FBI investigation into vote-buying in the South Carolina General Assembly. Of five legislators charged in August, three have pleaded guilty.

The indictments are beginning to raise questions at the Statehouse about the impact of the investigation on black lawmakers. Four of the 10 legislators who have been indicted are black. There are 19 black legislators in the 170-member General Assembly.

The legislators charged Friday with violating the Hobbs Act, a federal bribery law, were Reps. Thomas Limehouse, Ennis Fant, Larry Blanding and B. J. Gordon. All but Limehouse are black.

In addition, Rep. Donna A. Moss was charged with misdemeanor cocaine possession. She resigned her seat Friday.

House Speaker Bob Sheheen suspended the indicted lawmakers, which is required by House rules.

Limehouse, 31, was charged in a three-count indictment with two violations of the Hobbs Act. He was accused of accepting $2,000 from Ron Cobb, a lobbyist who worked undercover for the FBI in the sting operation known as Operation Lost Trust.

Limehouse was also charged with conspiracy to solicit bribes and obstruction of justice.

Fant, 29, Blanding, 37, and Gordon, 57, were charged together in one count of conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act. Each was charged separately with accepting bribes.

Violations of the Hobbs Act carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Moss, 36, is charged with possession of cocaine during the 1989 legislative session.

Also charged was lobbyist James Madison Brown V, on one count of misdemeanor possession of marijuana in September, 1989.