NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Investigators say a South Carolina man fraudulently obtained an academic transcript then used the document and undergraduate degree to enter graduate programs and obtain employment.
SLED agents charged Billy Joe Bell, 38, of North Charleston, with Identity Fraud. He was arrested Thursday.
According to SLED documents, in May 2018, Bell went to the College of Charleston Office of the Registrar and requested to change a student’s name, date of birth, and social security number to his own.
After obtaining the student’s records, he applied to graduate schools at the Citadel and Western Governor’s School. He also used the academic records to apply for work at Boeing.
The SLED investigation was requested by the College of Charleston Public Safety Office. Bell was booked at the Charleston County Detention Center and then released on a $10,000 bond.
The case will be prosecuted by the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office
