COLUMBIA -- State and federal officials on Wednesday unveiled a multi-agency task force to fight public corruption in South Carolina, then made a point of their efforts by announcing a bribery and extortion indictment against a county council chairman.

U.S. Attorney Reginald Lloyd told reporters that the indictments against Orangeburg County Council Chairman John Rickenbacker came before the task force was formed. But he said the joint efforts of the FBI and SLED, which led to the charges, is an example of what prosecutors have in mind.

"We believe that an act of public corruption is no less criminal than a violent crime committed on the streets of this state," he said. "Abusing an office at the expense of the electorate does violence to the public's trust and our very system of government."

The task force will include designated agents of the FBI, SLED and IRS, and will be overseen by state and federal prosecutors, who already exchange tips and share resources on cases, they said. Lloyd said the task force will be used for special cases in which resources from the state and federal government are needed.

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Greenville Police Chief Willie Johnson said the task force is a good idea.

"I think it's a very good, pro-active move," he said. "We can do more together than we can by ourselves. So creating a task force that involves state and federal authorities is a good move."

Brian Lamkin, special agent in charge of the FBI's Columbia division, said there was no one case nor an increase in corruption activity that prompted the creation of the task force.

"This is an opportunity to harness the investigative expertise and resources of federal and state law enforcement in a focused effort on those who would undermine and abuse the public's trust and confidence," he said.

Also applauding the task force was state Sen. Gerald Malloy, a Hartsville lawyer and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Corruption has no position in any form of government," he said. "If there is a person with some responsibility, then there has to be some accountability."

SLED Chief Robert Stewart said his agency investigated 186 cases of official misconduct last year, not counting cases before the state's grand jury and federal authorities.

"We have a duty to the citizens of South Carolina to ferret out corruption in government," he said. "We also have a responsibility not to ruin the careers of innocent public officials that are accused."

FBI officials asked that any citizen with information about corruption contact them via the agency's Web site at reportcorruption.fbi.gov or by calling them at 803-551-4200. They said citizens may also call SLED at 803-737-9000.

Lloyd said Rickenbacker, 54, is charged with soliciting and receiving bribes totaling $50,000 between December 2005 and May 2006. He said the chairman is accused of paying an undercover FBI agent posing as a consultant to a company interested in acquiring the Regional Medical Center of Orangeburg and Calhoun counties.

Rickenbacker could not be reached for comment. Gov. Mark Sanford suspended him from office Wednesday afternoon after being presented with a copy of the indictment.

The indictment alleges that in exchange for the money, Rickenbacker agreed to provide the undercover agent with a valuation report analyzing the financial condition of the hospital. Rickenbacker also indicated, according to the indictment, he would provide the political support needed to get the sale approved by the Orangeburg County Council.

If convicted, Rickenbacker faces a maximum penalty of $250,000 and/or 10 years in prison on the bribery charges and $250,000 and/or 20 years in prison on the extortion charges, Lloyd said.