PRESS NOTICE

W. WALTER WILKINS

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

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1441 Main Street * Suite 500 * Columbia, SC 29201 * (803) 929-3000 *

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March 12, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT PERSON: KEVIN F. McDONALD (803) 929-3000

EASLEY MAN INDICTED IN ONGOING CFS FRAUD INVESTIGATION

          

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Jeffery Scott McAbee, age 39, of Easley, was charged in a federal indictment with mail fraud and misprison of a felony.

McAbee is the brother in-law of Daryl Batts, who was sentenced last December to 121 months in federal prison for a $10 million dollar investment fraud scheme he operated through his Easley-based business Comprehensive Financial Solutions (CFS), a/k/a College Funding Solutions. Authorities allege that McAbee worked with Batts to solicit investments into CFS from 2004 to 2008, despite knowing that Batts and CFS were engaged in fraud during the time.

The maximum penalty McAbee could receive for each of six mail fraud counts is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for 20 years, and the maximum penalty for misprison of a felony is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment of three years.

Mr. Wilkins stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.