Columbia, SC 02/25/2025 - Kenneth J. Brown, 45, and Nicholas R. Shepard, 46, both of Lexington, have each been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud for their involvement in business email compromise and romance scams.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Brown and Shepard coordinated with others to receive checks from victims of business email compromise and romance scams through the United States mail to their business, Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange in Irmo. After receiving the checks, Brown and Shepard deposited them into their business account and then converted the money into cryptocurrency.
Senior United States District Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Brown and Shepard to 16 months imprisonment each, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Although a potential fine was waived, they were ordered to pay $415,196.66 in restitution to the victims of their crimes. Brown and Shepard are jointly and severally liable for the restitution.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case.
