Ex-Utility Exec Pleads Guilty to $1B Fraud in South Carolina

Former SCANA Corp. Senior Vice President Stephen Byrne arrives at the Matthew J. Perry Jr. Courthouse to enter a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in Columbia, S.C., on July 23, 2020. Michelle Liu/AP

COLUMBIA, S.C.—Nearly three years after leading a failed project to build two nuclear reactors in South Carolina, an executive in charge of the construction pleaded guilty on July 23 to taking more than $1 billion from the pockets of ratepayers and investors.

Former SCANA Corp. Executive Vice President Stephen Byrne said little beyond answering the judge’s yes or no questions as he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.