Shoemake Sworn in as newest elected member of Kershaw County Council
April 5, 2023
Former Distinguished Federal Prosecutor Recently Joined Connell Law Firm
Derek A. Shoemake, 44, of Elgin, was sworn in today to represent Kershaw County District 3 – which covers most of Elgin and a portion of Lugoff – after winning a special general election last Tuesday. He had been serving on Council under a special gubernatorial appointment after winning his primary election. Shoemake recently joined the Connell Law Firm following his time as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, where he ran one of the four offices in the state and handled a variety of complex criminal legal matters.
“I am honored to serve the county my family has called home for four generations, and to represent the community in which I was raised,” said Shoemake. “Elgin is the fastest growing area in Kershaw County, and among the fastest growing areas in the state. Its residents need places not only to live, but to work and play. Thus, it is critical that we grow in a responsible way that minimizes the impact on Government spending.”
Shoemake also expressed eagerness to practice law in Kershaw County. “Serving as a federal prosecutor was an honor and privilege,” said Shoemake, who is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “However, I am eager to return to private practice to help people and businesses facing their worst moments.”
Shoemake’s prosecution career included handling violent crime and narcotics cases, including cases involving drug gangs, firearms, bank robbery, and the most recent federal death penalty case in the United States. He ultimately became a white-collar prosecutor, where he handled complex criminal matters including wire fraud, healthcare fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud, and public corruption. This included serving as lead counsel in a federal money laundering and animal welfare case against Bhagavan “Doc” Antle, known for being in the Netflix show Tiger King, and serving as the state’s coordinator for pandemic-related fraud.
In addition to his litigation experience, Shoemake serves as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina’s School of Law, where he has taught Legal Writing and currently teaches Technology and Criminal Law.
The Connell Law Firm specializes in criminal law, personal injury, and business litigation. For more about Shoemake, visit – https://lawconnell.com/derek-shoemake/.
