Former federal worker in North Charleston pleads guilty to embezzling from government

A former worker at the U.S. State Department’s financial outpost in North Charleston has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $58,000 from the federal government.

Steven Medlock, 58, waived his right to an indictment, and he will be sentenced later. He faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years in a supervised release program, said U.S. District Court Judge Richard M. Gergel.

Medlock signed the guilty plea at a hearing in downtown Charleston this week.

He already has repaid the stolen money in full, said Rhett DeHart, assistant U.S. Attorney.

Medlock worked as a disbursement specialist for the State Department’s Global Financial Services Center, which handles worldwide billings and other transactions for the agency from offices on the former Navy base.

Prosecutors said he created and controlled a fictitious company that submitted a series of fake invoices to charge the government about $58,700 in currency exchange fees between September and April.

DeHart said Medlock also forged an unidentified person’s name on payment vouchers as part of the embezzlement. The money was deposited into a bank account that Medlock controlled.

An anonymous tipster alerted authorities, DeHart said. U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles charged Medlock with one count of theft of government property valued at more than $1,000 on May 8.

Medlock, who is represented by Charleston criminal defense attorney Andy Savage, did not make a statement at Monday’s plea hearing. He was released on a personal recognizance bond.

Reach John McDermott at 937-5572.