Ex-Horry County IT employee heads to prison in $345K computer theft scheme
A former Horry County technology employee will spend two years in federal prison after stealing computer equipment.
Terry Shawn Petrill, 48, of Myrtle Beach, pleaded guilty to theft of federal funds and was sentenced to two years in prison. He will also have to pay back more than $340,000 in restitution.
Federal officials say that between June 2015 and August 2018, Petrill ordered 41 computer network switches for Horry County. At that time, he was employed with the county.
A switch works similar to a home router and allows multiple computers to connect to the Internet.
The timetable of his crime coincided with various equipment being stolen from the Horry County IT Department, according to a police report, which states an IT worker learned of the missing items during an inventory.
Officials were mum after announcing the investigation and called in the FBI to assist.
Petrill told others he would handle the installation of the switches, then sold them to other groups, according to federal officials.
The county had a total loss of $345,265 in the scheme.
Once Petrill completes his prison sentence, he will serve three years on probation.
