Former Fort Mill health care firm employee indicted

FORT MILL, S.C. — A former employee of a Fort Mill health care firm used personal information of clients and patients to open fraudulent bank accounts and credit cards, according to a federal grand jury that indicted him.

The grand jury, sitting in Columbia, handed up an indictment charging Stanley Fard Harper with 31 criminal counts. Court records show he was employed at Lash Group in Fort Mill.

Federal authorities said from September to March, Harper opened fake accounts under the identities of patients and clients. It resulted in the potential loss of more than $210,000, according to the indictment.

A representative for Lash Group told Channel 9 that the company believes fewer than 50 individuals were affected. The company will also reimburse affected individuals for out-of-pocket costs of credit repair and offer one-year free credit monitoring, an official said.

"Protecting the information of the patients we serve is a top priority for Lash Group. We have advanced processes and protocols in place to detect inappropriate activity, and we're cooperating fully with authorities in this investigation," said Francesca Gunning, a spokesperson for Lash Group.

Gunning confirmed Harper is no longer employed with the company.

Channel 9 attempted to reach Harper but was unsuccessful. He has received a summons to appear at the federal courthouse in Columbia on July 6.

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