06/18/2026

Owner of Myrtle Beach construction company says stolen check scheme was ‘unsettling’ after suspect’s guilty plea

News 13

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The owner of a construction company that fell victim to a massive stolen check scheme in Horry County says the ordeal took an emotional toll on him after one of the suspects was recently given a prison sentence for it.

Willie Bernard Perry, 25, of Florida, was sentenced to seven years in prison after admitting his guilt. The 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office announced Perry’s guilty plea this week to charges including receiving stolen goods with a value of $10,000 or more, conspiracy, and three counts of third or subsequent offense of receiving stolen goods. Myrtle Beach Police officers discovered the checks in July 2025.

The case involved check fraud that affected numerous victims, including Edward Benton, the owner of C.L. Benton & Sons, a local construction company.

Benton was among the victims of the check fraud, which officials are calling one of the largest stolen check investigations in Horry County. He said he was on edge after receiving a call from Myrtle Beach police last year that $450,000 worth of checks had been stolen from the company.