STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA ‘COUNTY OF RICHLAND [BEFORE THE STATE ETHICS COMMISSION INTHE MATTER OF: ‘COMPLAINT C2010-076 RobertS. Guyton, ‘CONSENT ORDER Respondent. ‘State Ethics Commission, (Complazant. ‘This mer come: before the South Curlin Sate Fai Commision (Commission by ‘way ofa complaint led by the Commision against Raber. Guyton (Respondent on Sansay 72,2010, Prior othe cal ofthe case, Respondent agreed to ey ofthe following Siemens of Feet, Conclusions of Law, Discussion, and Disposition in his maze, ‘STATEMENTS OF FACT Jn or around 2019, Respondent engaged in an effort to mmxinize ancl support to cenain favored candida runcag fr local and sntewide election. In connection with this effon, ‘on June 8, 2009, Responses inotucted hs bookkeeper to onder numerous eaters check hat orensitly derived from furten fret mie ily companies (LLCS)." After the cxshie's checks were prepared by the bank, an employee of Respondent's delivered them to the Myre Beach Ares Chamber of Commerce (MBAC) office. The checks were the distributed t the candidates by Brant Brasham, MBAC chan. In ttl one-hundred and forty-ightcasic’s ‘hocks were fue for atotal amount f $183,000, calegorized as follows: 1. Fourteen $2500 cashiers checks to South Carolina Guberatoil candidate Gresham Beet, ‘Respndn adm rire! get fh ewig LLC: (1) 85 Pol Funes LLC) ack Gus LC, (barf Cyt LE () Pra Para (5) AM RD Tie Ary. (6 CF Pantin Paes LLC) ‘Sica ak Rosa () Grek Vi and Pers (3) Dan Land Permet LL,(0 Besh Pui Sev, i) ea ancien (AMADA BLS)Consent Order Robert S. Guyton, C2010-076 Page 20fS ‘2 Foureen $1,000 cashier's checks to Myre Beach Mayors candine John Rhodes; ‘3. Fourteen $1,000 cashes checks to Myre Beach City Councl candi Willi W.cay, 4. Fourteen 1,000 cashier's checks to Mynle Beach Cty Council eandidste Chases W. ', Fourteen $1,000 cahir’s checks to Myre Beach City Council candidat Renda. ‘Walece; 6. Fourteen $1,000 cashier's checks to State Senate candidate Raymond E. Cleary, Il; 1 paragon ater nae ih « pslonaneyone art 4 emo hiner \semntan ate ne en ap {emt ae ea ih oe ppl tS pe dn weft tt teen pn etre ‘personal campaign contribution allowed by Section 8-13-1314, $1,000 for local candidates and (one cansandan tener enne ef (CONCLUSIONS OF LAW venga tema ern tf 1 tetsu rete 2 seo inches aatsocet peat “acting on the candidate's behalf: (1) a contribution which exceeds:Consent Order Rober S. Guyton, 2010-075 Pages of 5 (4) shee hound five hundred dollars in the ase of «cant for ssmewide office or (©) oor thousand dollars tne case of cana for any ofc, 4, Seeton 8-13-1200 sate in relevant par: (© *Comminee” means an astocinton, t chub, m organization, or 8 goup of sas hich 1 influnce the outcome ofa elective office, receives eontutons ‘ramus expeadinesinexcest of ive hundred dollars int aggregate ding ua lectioncycle.Italso meansa person who to influence the outcome ofan dectve fie, makes: (9) consibations aggrpatng x least westy-fivethousend dolls dung an ‘lection eyle oor abe request of «candidat ra coramite ort ‘ombination of them; of 1) independent expenitres aggregating five hundred dollars or moe (hing an leton cycle forthe election or defeat ofa candidate. “Commitee” includes a paty committe, a legislative exveus comitee, ‘oncandidete commis, ora commines tht is not a campaga commits for 8 ‘candidal but tha is npunke fr the purpose of influencing an election. 2 Tene” meee ao lvl. « ace, em, pamela ‘venture, joist stock company, syndicate, business tis, an eae, « company, ‘ommltee, an association, x corponton, cub, bor organization, or ary othe coxganztion or group of person acting in conceit. Discussion Inthe course of is investigation, the Commission detrmined that Respondent met the ‘efston of a"comantee” in Section 8-13-1300(6). When the complaint gains the Respondent is cosiered bythe Commision on March 17,2010, probable cause was found agit the Respondent on ua exceedingly lage numer of eum of viition ofthe Bis Act by ve of Respooden's stats aa “commits” purman to §.C, Code Ann § 8-13-13006). (0a Sepember 13, 2010, he U.S. Dishit Court forthe Distt of South Cain in S.C. ‘Giiasa for Life, Knucheck, 159 F Sopp, 24708, 728 (DC. 2010), red tat he dfn,