Two Aiken Co. men indicted by federal grand jury, allegations of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud

AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) – Two Aiken County men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in reference to accusations of brank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

According to the United States Department of Justice in the District of South Carolina, a federal grand jury in Columbia returned a three-count superseding indictment against Thomas Allen Bateman, Jr., 50, and Cody Lee Anderson, 37, for bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that Bateman and Anderson enticed an elderly woman to leave all her assets to Bateman through a will that designated Anderson as her personal representative, and at the time, she did not have the mental capacity to make a knowing and voluntary decision regarding her assets.

According to the public affair’s specialist with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, based off of the indictment, Anderson is referenced as the owner of the George Funeral Home in Aiken.

U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Bateman and Anderson face a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment and will make a first appearance and be arraigned on July 31st, 2024.

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