Who is Jerry Rivers? A new name surfaces in the Alex Murdaugh financial crimes saga
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Alex Murdaugh Coverage
The Murdaugh family saga has dominated the news after another shooting, a resignation and criminal accusations — with Alex Murdaugh at the center of it all. Here are the latest updates on Alex Murdaugh.
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Another new name is now intertwined in the alleged financial scheme started by Alex Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney who also faces charges in the killings of his wife and son.
On Friday, the state Attorney General’s Office revealed that Jerry K. Rivers, 39, had been indicted by the state grand jury on one count of obstruction of justice for removing a cellphone belonging to someone who was arrested on or about Aug. 10 while law enforcement was executing a search warrant in Colleton County.
Although the indictment mentioned Rivers’ obstruction of justice charge was linked to a money-laundering “crime involving narcotics,” it did not explain exactly how Rivers was connected to Murdaugh.
But in a Richland County courtroom Friday, state prosecutor Creighton Waters explained to Judge Clifton Newman that Rivers is “very much” involved in ongoing money-laundering and check-cashing investigations concerning Murdaugh.
He said Rivers is “one of the individuals downstream from Alex Murdaugh … who received substantial amounts of checks — the high five figures for Mr. Rivers.”
In 2021 alone, some $89,000 in checks originating from Murdaugh went to Rivers for him to cash, Waters told the judge.
Murdaugh, 54, the disbarred Hampton attorney, has been charged in 20 indictments alleging he stole some $8.7 million from clients, associates, his law firm and other lawyers and laundered the money through various checking accounts. Indictments have alleged that Murdaugh used various bank accounts and intermediaries to turn money he stole into cash for drugs and other uses.
Waters said checks went from Murdaugh to Eddie Smith first, then to Spencer Roberts and to Rivers and “other individuals” Waters did not identify. Smith and Roberts both face charges in connection with Murdaugh.
Rivers has been part of the State Law Enforcement Division investigation of Murdaugh matters since October 2021 and has been represented by an experienced attorney, Rose Mary Parham of Florence, who is a former federal and state prosecutor, Waters said.
Rivers has not cooperated with law enforcement “whatsoever” in that investigation, Waters told the judge.
Rivers “has a very substantial narcotics-related prior (criminal) record,” Waters told the judge. Prior convictions were for gambling, bicycle theft and intent to distribute cocaine, Waters said.
Given that Rivers’ prior convictions demonstrate a “disregard for law enforcement,” and that Rivers’ hid a cellphone during a legal law enforcement search, that background warrants a $150,000 surety bond, Waters told the judge.
Newman agreed, and issued Rivers a surety bond of $150,000.
“These are very serious charges,” Newman said.
Lawton Matthews, Rivers’ attorney, urged a low bond Friday, saying his client is financially strapped and is currently unemployed. He is not a flight risk or a danger to society, and lives in Walterboro with his girlfriend and five children, Matthews said. He also helps take care of his ailing 75-year-old mother, Matthews said.
Moreover, Rivers “denies any involvement with drugs or other matters,” said Matthews, who works with Rivers’ other lawyer, Parham.
Asked by the judge if he had anything to say, Rivers replied “No, sir.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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