SOUTH CAROLINA (AP) – A former South Carolina state legislator finds himself in hot water as he faces serious federal charges linked to a scheme allegedly designed to defraud his legal clients.

A federal grand jury has indicted Marvin Pendarvis, a former Democratic representative and practicing attorney, on ten counts, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. This indictment marks a significant legal challenge for Pendarvis, who once served the Charleston area in the state legislature.

Prosecutors allege that between 2022 and 2024, Pendarvis engaged in unethical practices while negotiating financial settlements for his clients. The government claims that he failed to inform his clients when settlements were reached, instead diverting the funds for his personal use. In some instances, Pendarvis allegedly provided his clients with smaller amounts than what had been agreed upon, keeping the difference for himself.

The prosecution contends that more than half a million dollars ended up in Pendarvis’s law firm’s trust fund account, none of which was distributed to his clients as it should have been.

Efforts to reach Pendarvis for comment on Wednesday were unsuccessful, as he did not immediately respond to messages.

Pendarvis’ law license was suspended last year after a former client accused him of forging his signature to reach a settlement in a lawsuit without his permission. The order issued then by the state Supreme Court didn’t detail why the suspension had been recommended, but the former client — whose initials matched one of the alleged victims detailed in Wednesday’s indictment — accused Pendarvis of sending him text messages asking him not to sue over the alleged forgery.

“Let’s handle this (expletive). No need to try and hurt me man. I can help you,” Pendarvis wrote Lewis in text messages filed with the state lawsuit, which is still pending.

First elected in a special election in 2017, he won three full terms before resigning from office about four months after the suspension of his law license.

According to court records, Pendarvis is slated to appear in federal court on Nov. 18.