Kevin Hedgpeth Pleads Not Guilty to Child Exploitation Charges
The case began after a Customs and Border Protection inspection during a Florida cruise ship stop; court details did not name the vessel, cruise line or port.
Federal prosecutors in Charleston said a 23-count indictment charges former Hanahan Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Hedgpeth with exploiting at least 19 minors through social media and payment apps, in a case investigators say began after a Customs and Border Protection inspection during a Florida cruise ship stop last year. Hedgpeth, 48, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and remains in federal custody.
Case began after Florida cruise ship inspection
Homeland Security Investigations later uncovered evidence allegedly linking Hedgpeth to online forums involving the sale and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Court documents cited by prosecutors said investigators identified nearly 50 accounts connected to minors or suspected illegal content sellers that allegedly received payments through Cash App and PayPal accounts tied to Hedgpeth.
The court details made public did not name the vessel, cruise line or Florida port tied to the initial inspection. HSI agents in New York and Charleston worked the case.
Indictment alleges online contact with minors in two states
Prosecutors said Hedgpeth used Snapchat, Telegram, TikTok, Instagram and X to communicate with minors between the ages of 12 and 17. U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina Bryan Stirling said investigators had identified “13 minor females, six minor males,” with four in North Carolina and 15 in South Carolina.
“Those apps, he pretended to be a minor and did so under several different names,” Stirling said.
The indictment includes charges involving sex trafficking of a minor, coercion and enticement, production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material, distribution, receipt and possession. Prosecutors said Hedgpeth faces decades in prison and more than $6 million in fines; conviction on the most serious counts could result in a life sentence.
Stirling said the grand jury alleged that social media was used to target children. “They used Cash App and Venmo to pay for children for depicting their abuse,” he said.
Authorities seek additional information
Stirling said the minors identified in the case should be viewed as survivors. “We hope this is the start of a long process of healing for them after what they’ve been through,” he said.
He also credited HSI investigators who handled the case. “They go through a lot, they see a lot, it’s tough on them to see this stuff,” Stirling said.
“If there are people out there that have been affected by this man, we would ask them to come forward,” Stirling said.
A future court date has not yet been scheduled.
