Week in Review

Mic Smith
The Post and Courier

Al Parish arrives last week at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Charleston to learn his sentence for defrauding hundreds of investors out of millions.

Al Parish, the self-titled "Economan" known for his clownish suits and hollow financial wizardry, was sentenced last week to 24 years and four months in prison for an investment scheme that pilfered at least $66 million from roughly 600 investors. Parish received the minimum sentence under federal guidelines.

He could have been sentenced to more than 30 years. The penalty could be a life sentence for the unhealthy and obese former economics professor. Parish, 50, told The Post and Courier that he expects to die within the next 10 years. With credit for good behavior, Parish could reduce his sentence to nearly 21 years.

Film studio to open

A Charleston lawyer turned on-air personality is converting an old Piggly Wiggly supermarket into what would be the largest television and film studio in the state. Akim Anastopoulo, who plays the judge on his courtroom reality TV show "Eye for an Eye," said he plans to open the facility Aug. 1. in Hollywood — the one down the road, not the one in California.

The studio's name remains undecided. With a nearly $8 million initial investment, the studio already has attracted interest from two cable companies pitching pilot programs.

Electronics firm grows

UEC Electronics LLC of Hanahan is undergoing a $2 million expansion.

The rapidly growing electronics company recently leased a 25,000-square-foot building in North Charleston, doubling its total space.

It's also tearing down a former cabinet shop located next to the company's headquarters and building a facility that will add 20,000 square feet of assembly space.

The new building will give the company room to grow its aerospace business, which requires more-complicated, refined electronic parts.

The company plans to add about 100 workers over the next few years to its current roster of 85.

Chamber hails Zucker

The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce honored Jerry Zucker at its annual meeting and gala, saying the late Charleston industrialist and philanthropist used his skills, resources and leadership qualities to make the region a better place to live and work.

Zucker's widow, Anita, accepted the chamber's Joseph P. Riley Award on behalf of her husband, who died of brain cancer in April at age 58.

Also, the chamber ushered in local insurance executive Bobby Collins as its volunteer chairman for the next 12 months and named the Medical University of South Carolina its business of the year.