Former Loris Clerk Accused of $55K Salary Boost

Former Loris, South Carolina, clerk of court Todd Keith Massey is accused of raising his own hourly pay without authorization during 44 consecutive pay periods from June 2021 to January 2023, taking about $55,183 more than his approved salary. Investigators allege the increases—from an approved rate of $16.98 an hour to rates as high as $46.26—were not approved by the mayor or City Council. Massey surrendered to authorities and faces charges including breach of trust, grand larceny and violating state ethics law. The case follows his 2025 guilty plea to embezzling roughly $70,000 from Giving Hope Gardens, a nonprofit supporting people with disabilities; he received five years’ imprisonment suspended for probation and was ordered to pay restitution.