Man accused of stealing $83,000 from Union Co. housing authority

UNION COUNTY, S.C.(WSPA) – A West Columbia man is facing financial crimes charges after investigators said he stole more than $83,000 from The Housing Authority of Union.

According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the housing authority contacted investigators in June after four unauthorized debits totaling $83,672 were discovered over a two-day period.

According to the sheriff’s office, the debits were withdrawn from a housing authority banking account by an account with Truist Bank.

Earlier this month, Truist Bank turned over records showing $77,676 was taken from the housing authority’s account and sent into a home equity line of credit for James Edwin Corley Jr., of West Columbia.

Investigators reached out to the West Columbia Police Department, who met with Corley.

According to the sheriff’s office, Corley told police he knew about the money and he was “talking” to a woman online.

On Tuesday, Corley was arrested and brought to Union County and charged with Financial Transaction Theft. He is in the Union County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

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