Charleston Lobbyist Charged With Extortion in $500K Scheme

A Charleston, South Carolina lobbyist who worked on presidential pardons has been arrested on federal extortion charges in New York. Joshua Nass allegedly hired an 'enforcer' to intimidate a former client and his son into paying $500,000 in fees.

Federal prosecutors in New York have arrested a South Carolina lobbyist on extortion charges, accusing him of hiring an intimidator to force a former client to pay half a million dollars in fees.

Joshua Nass, 34, from Charleston, South Carolina, faces up to two decades behind bars if found guilty of attempted extortion. He was set to appear before a federal magistrate judge on Saturday after charges were made public Friday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

According to federal court filings, Nass began recruiting someone in January to serve as muscle against his former client and the man’s son, demanding they pay $500,000 that Nass claimed they owed him. Court papers identify the victims only as ‘John Doe 1’ and ‘John Doe 2.’

‘Rather than honestly representing his client, Joshua Nass allegedly chose to shake him down by hiring an enforcer to extort payment,’ stated James Barnacle Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office. ‘The FBI prioritizes crushing violent crimes offenses and extortion schemes.’

Federal lobbying records show Nass represented Joseph Schwartz, listing ‘federal presidential pardon advocacy’ among his services. A disclosure form from January 15 indicated Nass’s firm earned approximately $100,000 during the final quarter of 2025 for lobbying work.

President Trump granted a pardon in November to Joseph Schwartz, who had admitted guilt in 2024 for his involvement in a $38 million employment tax fraud case connected to nursing facilities he controlled nationwide through his New Jersey company, Skyline Management Group.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to confirm Saturday whether the charges against Nass connect to his work for Schwartz.

Authorities apprehended Nass outside his Manhattan hotel Friday, the same day he planned to meet with the government’s cooperating witness.

Nass’s legal representative has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations.

Prosecution documents reveal Nass agreed last December to provide lobbying services for $600,000. The client’s son made an initial $100,000 payment but later requested a payment plan for the remaining balance, which Nass considered disrespectful, according to court filings.

Nass, who holds a New York law license, instructed his associate to visit the son’s residence in the New York area to demand payment. However, the son closed the door after learning Nass had sent the visitor, court records state.

From January through March, Nass and the cooperating witness discussed various intimidation tactics to obtain the money, including physical assault and threatening the son with masked accomplices in a vehicle, prosecutors allege. An FBI agent’s sworn statement indicates Nass instructed the witness not to treat the son ‘like a human being.’