Former SCDC Captain and SCDC Inmate Indicted for Bribery, Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Money Laundering

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 15-count indictment against Christine Mary Livingston, 46, of Gaston, and Jerell Reaves, 33, for bribery, conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering.

During the alleged crimes, Livingston was a correctional officer and supervisor at the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), where she worked as a law enforcement officer from 2005 through 2021. Reaves is an inmate serving a sentence for voluntary manslaughter.

The indictment alleges that during her work at the Broad River Correctional Institute, Livingston accepted more than $200,000 in bribes from inmates and their families in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison. She is alleged to have brought approximately 173 contraband cell phones into the facility, as well as headphones, sim cards, chargers, and other contraband. Livingston held the rank of Captain at SCDC from 2016 through 2021. 

One of those inmates was Jerell Reaves. Reaves is alleged to have caused more than $40,000 in bribes to be paid to Livingston in exchange for contraband.

Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, $250,000 in monetary penalties, and forfeiture.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the SCDC Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels is prosecuting the case. 

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. The indictment may be found on the public docket at case number 3:24-cr-252-CRI.

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