WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– A West Columbia woman convicted of defrauding a Midlands restaurant group out of $300,000 learned her fate Friday, March 27, in federal court. Melanie Marie Hoover was sentenced to six and half years in prison. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hoover s tole the money from her employer, a Columbia restaurant group that owns Publico in Five Points and on Bull Street as well as Boku on Gervais Street. Boku ultimately closed in part according to court documents due to Hoover’s embezzlement. Categories: Local News ...read more read less