A Lexington County man has been charged with two counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent after over $60,000 was taken from the Lexington County Republican Party and over $50,000 was taken from the Lexington Rotary Club Foundation.

Craig Thomas Caldwell chaired the Lexington County Republican Party from 2016 to 2023, and according to arrest warrants from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, he allegedly took $61,591 from the party’s account over the span of 147 transfers into his personal account from 2018 to 2023.

“Caldwell further admitted to covering these transfers up by falsifying monthly treasurer’s reports to submit to the other members of the party,” according to an arrest warrant. 

He also allegedly took $52,300 from the Lexington Rotary Club Foundation from May 16, 2023 to March 23, 2024. 

“Caldwell wrote eleven checks to himself from the foundation account while he was the Treasurer,” according to an arrest warrant. “Caldwell attempted to hide the withdrawals from other board members by not putting the checks into their accounting software (QuickBooks).”

Caldwell was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center and the case will be prosecuted by the 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.