He’s sweating now!
A Lowcountry personal injury attorney allegedly stole more than $1.5 million from his clients and law firm.
Former attorney William Christopher Swett agreed to plead guilty to four counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering, according to plea documents. Swett faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Swett worked as a personal injury attorney and represented clients in civil claims following injury, death and other losses. His practice mainly focused on asbestos and mesothelioma litigation.
Court documents show Swett worked for a Mount Pleasant-based law firm, and based on online records, he worked for the Motley Rice Law Firm, which is located in Mount Pleasant. The Supreme Court suspended Swett’s legal license in May 2024.
From at least 2018 to 2024, the Department of Justice said Swett submitted reimbursement requests for fake clients, fabricated death and personal injury claims and falsified medical records.
Records show Swett created legal services companies and billed the firm and his clients for services that he never completed. He withheld his relationship with these companies from his clients and the firm.
Swett laundered the funds through accounts he controlled and used the money for his personal benefit, records show. He transferred money between bank accounts to conceal his scheme.
Swett’s wife worked as a paralegal at the same firm from 2013 until she was fired in 2024. They married in 2021 but withheld their romantic relationship from the firm for years.
Court documents say Swett directed his wife to submit fraudulent reimbursement requests. Her name and whether she was charged were not mentioned in the documents.
In addition to potential federal prison time, Swett also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution and three years of supervision following imprisonment. A sentencing date is not yet scheduled.
Swett’s attorney, Nathan Williams, released the following statement on behalf of his client:
“I do represent Chris, and I will say that, for a long time, he was struggling with personal challenges and, in that time, made some poor and regretful decisions. Since then, he has made significant changes in his life, and the plea agreement filed today reflects part of his efforts to take accountability for his past decisions and actions. We look forward to future hearings where we can more fully explain all of this in greater detail.”
Alicia Ward released a statement following the plea agreement:
“We await the next steps in this criminal prosecution regarding this former employee.”
