WHEREAS, Frank Jones, Mayor of the Town of Sellers, has been indicted by the United States District Court, District of South Carolina, Florence Division, on one count of knowingly and willfully devising and intending to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money from the Town of Sellers, South Carolina, by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 2; and

WHEREAS, the above-referenced charge is a crime of moral turpitude; and

WHEREAS, Article VI, Section 8 of the South Carolina Constitution provides in pertinent part, that "[a]ny officer of the State or its political subdivisions, except members and officers of the Legislative and Judicial Branches, who has been indicted by a grand jury for a crime involving moral turpitude or who has waived such indictment if permitted by law may be suspended by the Governor until he shall have been acquitted. In case of conviction the office shall be declared vacant and the vacancy filled as may be provided by law;" and

WHEREAS, Frank Jones is an Officer of the State or its political subdivisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers conferred upon me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of South Carolina, I hereby order that Frank Jones shall be suspended as Mayor of the Town of Sellers until such time as the above-referenced charge has been resolved, at which time further appropriate action will be taken by the undersigned.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1998.

DAVID M. BEASLEY
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:19 A.M.