Florence, South Carolina — Tyrone Goodrum, 44, was found guilty Tuesday of conspiracy to defraud the federal Farm Service Agency, after a swift two-day trial in U.S. District Court. The verdict lands hard in the wake of a scheme that exploited disaster relief funds meant for struggling farmers. Goodrum schemed to grab $18,500 in federal disaster aid he never earned — cash that instead vanished into his personal child support debt.
The fraud unfolded in the aftermath of Ice Storm Pax in February 2014, which ravaged farms across the Pee Dee region. As farmers scrambled to recover, the FSA opened emergency funding for cleanup and repairs. But inside the Florence FSA office, the system was being gamed. Roselyn Goodrum, Tyrone’s wife, ran the local FSA office from 2006 to 2014 — and used that access to orchestrate a web of false claims.
Evidence showed Roselyn Goodrum filed multiple fraudulent applications, illegally pocketing just over $146,000 in total. One of those claims was filed on behalf of her husband, Tyrone, falsely asserting he owned and operated a farm damaged by the storm. He had no connection to the land. Still, the claim sailed through — a direct result of insider manipulation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Beth Drake made it clear: the scheme wasn’t just bureaucratic abuse — it was theft from taxpayers. “These disaster funds exist to help real farmers in real crisis,” Drake said. “Not to be hijacked by insiders for personal gain.” Tyrone Goodrum now faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Roselyn Goodrum admitted her role, pleading guilty to the same conspiracy on September 1, 2016. Her sentencing preceded her husband’s, but the fallout continues. The case was investigated by USDA inspectors — the very agency whose programs were betrayed from within. Judge R. Bryan Harwell, who presided over the trial, will sentence Tyrone Goodrum at a date to be determined.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Holliday, who prosecuted the case from the Columbia office, called the conviction a necessary strike against corruption in public assistance programs. “When someone exploits a safety net designed for victims of disaster,” Holliday said, “they don’t just break the law — they rip the fabric of community trust.”
Related Federal Cases
- Lottery Scam Kingpins Sentenced in SC · South Carolina
- SC Attorney Meehan Jailed in UA Sorority Scam · Alabama
- Darlene Henderson Sentenced for Wire Fraud in FHA Loan Scam · South Carolina
- Marvin Songlin Gets 4 Years in Lottery Scam · South Carolina
- Greenville Man Caged in $264K Prepaid Card Scam · South Carolina
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News