Goose Creek Man Admits Bribery of North Charleston Councilman

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The rot runs deep in North Charleston. Hason Tatorian “Tory” Fields, 51, of Goose Creek, has pleaded guilty to a slew of federal charges stemming from a brazen attempt to buy influence with a sitting city councilman. Fields admitted to conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, and honest services wire fraud – a clear indication this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a calculated scheme.

The FBI and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division uncovered evidence showing Fields conspired with others to funnel bribes to Sandino Moses, then a member of the City of North Charleston’s City Council representing District 7. The payoff? Moses’s support for the rezoning of the Baker Hospital site. Fields wasn’t waiting for a friendly ear; he actively pursued Moses while the rezoning application was pending before the council, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the process and the public trust.

Two bribes were delivered, according to investigators. The specifics of those payments remain sealed, but the implication is clear: Fields believed a few dollars could sway a councilman’s vote and unlock a lucrative development deal. This isn’t just about rezoning; it’s about the erosion of faith in local government and the corrupting influence of money. The Baker Hospital site rezoning, now tainted, will likely face renewed scrutiny.

Fields now faces a grim reality. He’s looking at a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, a hefty fine of up to $250,000, and the potential for restitution orders. Even after serving his time, he’ll be under three years of supervised release. This should serve as a warning to anyone considering similar tactics: the feds are watching, and they’re willing to prosecute.

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted Fields’s guilty plea. Sentencing will be scheduled after the U.S. Probation Office completes its pre-sentencing report, giving the judge a comprehensive overview of Fields’s background and the impact of his crimes. The investigation, spearheaded by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, is a testament to the ongoing fight against public corruption in the Palmetto State.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Whit Sowards are leading the prosecution, promising to see this case through to its conclusion. Expect more details to emerge as the sentencing approaches, and Grimy Times will be there to report them. The question now is: who else was involved? This feels like just the tip of the iceberg.

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