EXPOSED: Loveless Conspiracy Was Just the Beginning—Sevilla v. Ross Blows the Lid Off a RICO Enterprise

SCANDAL EXPOSED: Loveless Conspiracy Was Just the Beginning—Sevilla v. Ross Blows the Lid Off a RICO Enterprise Inside Lexington-Richland 5

https://www.thestate.com/.../crime/article306473806.html

Ken Loveless was right.When former LR5 Board Chair Ken Loveless sued for civil conspiracy, most didn’t want to believe a sitting public official could be retaliated against for asking questions and demanding transparency.

Current & Recent Lawsuits Against LR5, Dr. Ross & Kevin Scully

1. Sevilla v. Ross et al., No. 3:25‑cv‑03528‑CMC‑SVH (D.S.C.)

A comprehensive federal civil rights and RICO lawsuit filed in April 2025 alleging:

Retaliation, ADA/504 violations, and civil conspiracy by Superintendent Dr. Akil Ross, district officials (including HR leaders), and Board Members Scully, Snipes, Satterfield, and Herring.
Suppression of FOIA requests, witness intimidation, falsified investigations, improper employment termination, and obstruction of justice through use of school and law enforcement resources.The State+5PACER Monitor+5PACER Monitor+5

2. Loveless v. Scully et al.

Former Board Chair Ken Loveless filed a defamation and conspiracy lawsuit against Kevin Scully, Akil Ross, and others. A 2025 court ruling expanded the case’s scope to include Ross and four board members, asserting political retaliation and civil conspiracy—confirming Loveless’s previously dismissed claims.The StateThe State

3. Huddle v. Lexington‑Richland 5

Sitting board member Catherine Huddle filed suit in July 2025 alleging political retaliation, defamation, and obstruction by the district after she publicly opposed unethical decisions. Her complaint documents internal censorship, selective communication leaks, and legal pushback by LR5.PACER Monitor+2PACER Monitor+2Facebook+2

ADA / Section 504 Complaints & Disability Rights Allegations

Numerous ADA/504 violation claims have been lodged as part of Sevilla v. Ross, including denial of access to diabetic students, failure to address concussion safety, coerced witness statements from minors, and fabricated grievance responses by district staff.PACER Monitor+2PACER Monitor+2PACER Monitor+2
Plaintiffs allege 504 Coordinator Nashuanda Walters, Special Ed Administrator Jinni Friend, and Admin Jeanna Locklair handled—or mishandled—formal grievances in a way inconsistent with federal protections, failing to investigate or record required follow-up actions.PACER MonitorPACER Monitor

Public Corruption & Ethical Violations

The district and Ross are accused of using 21 different law firms on taxpayers' dime to hide internal wrongdoing, covering up FOIA records, and intimidating dissenters—all common features of a federal RICO enterprise.PACER MonitorPACER Monitor
Loveless v. Scully confirms broader allegations of improper contract amendments, pay increases to Ross without public input, and secretive power consolidation.The StateThe State
As detailed in Huddle’s complaint, LR5 allegedly discloses internal communications selectively to protect political allies while silencing transparency advocates.PACER Monitor

These are not isolated incidents or political disputes—they collectively form a documented pattern of civil rights violations, misappropriation of public funds, and retaliatory governance. The litigation and complaints are active, publicly accessible, and corroborated by court filings and investigative reporting.

But the evidence in the Sevilla case proves Loveless wasn’t just right—he didn’t even scratch the surface.

In Sevilla v. Ross, federal case no. 3:25-cv-03528-CMC-SVH, a detailed RICO-level conspiracy is exposed—showing how Dr. Akil Ross and his loyalist board members created a taxpayer-funded protection racket that rewards silence, punishes dissent, and puts children and staff in harm’s way.

Ross and the “Four Stooges” (Scully, Snipes, Satterfield, and Herring) have:

Weaponized HR and school police against whistleblowers Suppressed FOIA records, ADA/504 complaints, and medical emergencies Locked out a diabetic athlete from his insulin—then covered it up Forced students to sign statements against their coach without telling parents Rewarded friends and minority vendors with secret contracts—bypassing ethics laws Raised Ross’s severance by $100,000 without public input Handed him a $100,000 “performance annuity” regardless of actual performance Lied to parents, courts, and the public while operating in total secrecy

This isn’t speculation—these are allegations supported by:

Sworn testimony
FOIA records
Police reports
OCR complaints
And three ongoing lawsuits:Sevilla v. Ross (Federal Civil Rights & ADA)Loveless v. Scully (Civil Conspiracy & Fraud)Huddle v. LR5 (Retaliation & Abuse of Power)

Coach Sevilla’s Story: The First Domino

Coach Tommy Sevilla, a decorated and beloved Irmo Middle wrestling coach, was locked out of the gym twice—along with his 22 wrestlers—by order of Principal Mansa Joseph, enforced by Amanda Neal and Jonathan Colon.

One student with a concussion fell and bled while locked out Another Type 1 Diabetic student was physically shoved by Amanda Neal when trying to retrieve his insulin When Sevilla begged a janitor to unlock the doors, the janitor refused—then claimed Sevilla used profanity No one punished the staff responsible. Instead, Sevilla was targeted.

Mansa Joseph later interrogated student-athletes without parental consent, forcing them to sign pre-written statements. Amanda Neal admitted the lockout was intentional.

This entire incident was then covered up by:

Tamara Turner and Reggie Wicker (HR)
Nashuanda Walters, Jinni Friend, and Jeanna Locklair (504 and admin)
Amanda Taylor, LR5’s own attorney and FOIA agent, who quoted Sevilla thousands of dollars to access records that should have been public—and never provided them.

This isn’t just negligence. It’s obstruction. It’s retaliation. It’s conspiracy.

Meanwhile, Coach Aaron Brand—accused of physical abuse, ordering physcial assaults on opposing players resulting in great bodily injury (staff witness to testify in federal court about this) grade fixing, retaliation, stalking (see photos) and making false police reports—still runs Irmo football, protected by the same corrupt machine and first and foremost: Kaaren Hampton and Paul Calvert!

PATTERN OF VIOLENCE, COVER-UPS, AND RACIAL DOUBLE STANDARDS IN LR5 — AND THE BOARD KEEPS PROTECTING IT

Ask yourself: Why are multiple African American coaches and administrators at Irmo Middle and Irmo High still employed after documented assaults, police citations, and formal citizen complaints... while Coach Tommy Sevilla, a non-African American Latino coach with no disciplinary history, was targeted, investigated, and terminated for allegedly using a single profanity (that he denies) after his wrestlers were locked out during a medical emergency?

Because this is Dr. Akil Ross’s racist RICO-style enterprise, and the board members Kevin Scully, Kimberly Snipes, Mike Satterfield, and David Herring protect it at every turn.

Let’s break it down:

INCIDENTS INVOLVING AFRICAN AMERICAN COACHES (ALL STILL EMPLOYED)

• Coach Teon Petree, an Irmo Middle School teacher and football coach, was witnessed attempting to physically assault a parent during the Irmo vs. Dutch Fork football game.→ No discipline. No investigation. Still employed. Video Evidence withheld

• Coach Gary Stephens, a football coach and wrestling assistant, physically assaulted another wrestling coach at Dreher High School during a meet. He was one of the coaches who supervised the physical punishment - directed by Coach Brand - of football players that were not yet eligible for physical activities and should not have practiced or engaged in physical activities - after an illegal 3.15 hour practice.→ No discipline. Still employed.

• Stephens was also cited by South Carolina State Police for reckless driving while transporting Irmo wrestlers and failing to feed them a proper meal during an out-of-town tournament.→ No discipline. Still employed.

• Coach Aaron Brand had four separate citizen complaints filed by the Sevilla family for harassment, retaliation, and ADA violations before the final incident where he stalked and aggressively confronted the Sevilla's at their son’s Irmo High baseball game.→ This incident was reported to Dr. Akil Ross in writing, with supporting witnesses.

Rather than discipline Brand, Principal Kaaren Hampton, Athletic Director Paul Calvert, and Coach Brand allegedly conspired to lie to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office to fabricate a trespass order against the Sevilla parent—a father simply watching his son play baseball.→ No discipline for Brand. No accountability for the false report.

Direct quote from a concerned Irmo parent and eyewitness who reported Coach Aaron Brand’s conduct directly to Superintendent Akil Ross:

“Last Monday night, I witnessed behavior exhibited by Coach Aaron Brand that I believe to be incredibly unprofessional and inappropriate. … I watched as Coach Brand placed himself directly behind Mr. and Mrs. Sevilla, continued to walk around and in front of them, and sit in an unbecoming manner. I was the one who took the photo that is now being shared where Coach Brand placed his foot directly above Mrs. Sevilla’s head.”“I hesitated to reach out to speak to you about this due to the concern of my son being retaliated against in some way… I hope that you are aware that this is becoming a rampant issue all across the district with parents and community members who refuse to bring their concerns… due to the fear of thus being bullied, harassed, and intimidated into silence…”“There is zero reason for any community member or their students… to feel as though they cannot speak out in an attempt at redress for their own family.”“I ask how you would respond if this was another man sitting in this manner above your own wife. As a husband and a father, I know that I would not have appreciated this in any way.”

Despite receiving this detailed, respectful, and corroborated eyewitness complaint—including photographic evidence—Superintendent Akil Ross refused to discipline or terminate Coach Aaron Brand.

Instead, Dr. Ross allegedly conspired with Irmo High Principal Kaaren Hampton, Athletic Director Paul Calvert, and Coach Brand himself to:

Lie to Lexington County Sheriff’s Deputies,
Suppress exculpatory evidence, and
Secure a fraudulent trespass order against the Sevilla parents, who were the victims of stalking and harassment—not the aggressors.

This retaliatory action, carried out under color of law, and intended to silence whistleblowers and protect a favored staff member, is now the subject of federal civil rights and RICO allegations in Sevilla v. Ross et al., Case No. 3:25-cv-03528-CMC-SVH.

These acts likely constitute felony-level misconduct, including:

Obstruction of justice
False reporting to law enforcement
Civil conspiracy to retaliate against protected activity
Potential deprivation of rights under color of law (18 U.S.C. § 242)

Dr. Ross had clear, direct knowledge of Brand’s conduct and chose instead to participate in a cover-up designed to punish the Sevilla family for speaking out.

Parents should not be afraid to report misconduct. Students should not be punished because their parents demand accountability. And public officials should not be above the law.

IN CONTRAST: HOW COACH SEVILLA WAS TREATED

Coach Tommy Sevilla—who built the two most successful wrestling seasons in Irmo Middle history and was beloved by students and parents—was:

Locked out of the gym twice with 22 wrestlers, including one with a concussion and another with Type 1 Diabetes

Refused access to emergency care areas by a janitor and Assistant Principal Amanda Neal

Allegedly used a profanity after being ignored during a medical emergency—and was immediately investigated

Fired following a rigged investigation conducted by Tamara Turner and Reggie Wicker of HR, who are also named in a federal civil rights lawsuit for fabricating findings

All of this occurred after Sevilla reported misconduct, stood up for student safety, and filed multiple ADA and civil rights complaints.

THE COMMON THREAD?

Every one of the protected staff—Petree, Stephens, Brand, Hampton, Calvert, Neal, Joseph, Turner, Wicker—are part of the same network of political loyalty and racial favoritism enabled by Superintendent Akil Ross, and protected by the same four corrupt board members who:

Ignored citizen complaints Refused to investigate staff violence or perjury Voted against transparency Refused to act on the Sevilla family’s ADA and safety concerns Protected Ross after he amended his own contract for a $100,000 severance bump and $100,000 annuity regardless of performance

Meanwhile, Coach Sevilla, a Latino coach with no history of discipline, is out of a job, and his children are now afraid to participate in school sports. The system is rigged. And the public is paying for it—literally.

Time for Justice

All of this is detailed in the federal civil rights and RICO lawsuit: Sevilla et al. v. Ross et al., Case No. 3:25-cv-03528-CMC-SVH, backed by: