Rebecca Wilkerson Johnson, 53, has since been charged with embezzlement. If convicted, she could face up to ten years in prison.
An affidavit states that from September 19, 2014 to September 24, 2015–Johnson was employed as a customer service rep for the SCDMV at the Ladson office.
Authorities say she was responsible for the safekeeping, transfer and disbursement of public funds.
On September 23, 2015–SLED agents say that an internal audit found a number of line items voided by Johnson.
The review found that on June 3, 2015, Johnson had back dated the suspension dates on five unpaid traffic tickets on customer Terry Hissong which cleared the suspension against his driver’s license.
Research by the SCDMV uncovered that Hissong had paid the outstanding fines on his tickets on June 3, 2015 and not the dates entered on his SCDMV record by Johnson.
SCDMV records indicated that $500 in reinstatement fees were due but there was no indication that Johnson collected the funds.
Hissong was contacted and reportedly advised that he paid $500 in cash to Johnson to reinstate his driver’s license.
After further review, SCDMV uncovered numerous incidents where Johnson backdated and cleared suspensions on customers and did not show funds received to SCDMV.
After advised of her Miranda Rights, SLED agents say she took responsibility for the missing funds and reportedly told them she did it because she had financial problems and took the money to pay personal bills.
Johnson was transported to the Hill Finklea Detention Center in Moncks Corner.
