Co-defendant in S.C. public corruption trial found dead in Atlanta

A co-defendant in the public corruption trial of former South Carolina State University board Chairman Jonathan Pinson was found dead at a hotel in Atlanta on Friday.

Greenville businessman Eric Robinson, 45, likely had a heart attack, his attorney, Shaun Kent, said.

Kent said autopsy results were being awaited on Monday. Robinson was a partner in a steakhouse restaurant in Atlanta and would stay in the city for business, Kent said.

He was found not guilty on charges of extortion, conspiracy, racketeering, bribery and making false statements to federal agents in July.

Robinson was Pinson’s longtime friend, college roommate and business partner.

Pinson, a Greenville businessman, was found guilty on 29 of 45 felony counts, including racketeering charges involving his time at S.C State.

He has not yet been sentenced.

The government had spent three years investigating and bringing the case to trial in Columbia. Investigators included a joint FBI-SLED public corruption team task force that targets officials in South Carolina.

Kent said that Robinson had a wife and three children.

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 4:43 PM with the headline "Co-defendant in S.C. public corruption trial found dead in Atlanta."