Charleston County school board member indicted for alleged bribery scheme

A Charleston County school board member has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with an alleged bribery scheme and other alleged crimes.

Kevin Hollinshead, 64, one of nine elected members on Charleston County School District Board of Trustees and a resident of North Charleston, has been indicted in connection with a bribery scheme involving a contractor who was trying to build a school for the school district, according to a 21-page indictment.

The indictment also alleges that Hollinshead got a $1,040 kickback from one deal and that he was going to use that money to help him buy a trailer for his catering business.

The construction company that Hollinshead tried to help get the contract to build a school was turned down at first, and Hollinshead used his position to help the company during its protest over being turned down, the indictment alleged.

The indictment did not identify the construction company or the school. The company’s protest was eventually turned down a second time by a review panel last August, the indictment said.

In all, Hollingshead was indicted for alleged crimes including: bribery in a program that receives federal funds, honest services wire fraud, fraud in a Paycheck Protection Program, bank fraud and wire fraud.

In 2020 and 2021, the indictment alleges, Hollinshead applied for two loans through the pandemic relief programs that were administered by the Small Business Administration.

“In addition to including false information in the loan applications related to his business’ revenues and employment figures, Hollinshead used the loan proceeds for non-qualifying, personal expenses such as a medical procedure at a clinic in Mexico,” a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Hollinshead faces a maximum penalty of 30 years’ prison sentence and a $1 million fine.

Hollinshead is scheduled to appear before the Honorable Molly H. Cherry, United States Magistrate Judge, on March 18 in Charleston. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office.

The Charleston County school district is the second-largest school district in South Carolina. It has 88 schools and approximately 50,000 students.

Federal prosecutors handling the case are Emily Limehouse and Whit Sowards.

Hollinshead is represented by federal public defender Brendan Daniels.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

This story was originally published March 17, 2026 at 12:16 PM.