Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright, 60, has been sentenced to decades in federal prison after a long‑time spending spree that abused taxpayers’ money. On Thursday he pleaded guilty to a series of corruption and wire‑fraud charges that will keep him behind bars for up to 20 years.
Wright admitted that he used the county’s official credit card from 2017 to 2024 to buy himself personal items. The list includes nearly 100 packs of cigarettes from Dollar General, almost $1,300 worth of mobile games such as Royal Match and Huntwise, and over $5,000 spent on restaurants like Chick‑fl A, Fuddruckers, Best Buy, CVS Pharmacy and Sirius XM. Total spending on non‑essential items topped $50,000.
Beyond the personal expenses, the ex‑sheriff was involved in a larger theft from the sheriff’s office Benevolence Fund. The fund, meant to reward and support local police officers, was siphoned at least $80,000 by Wright and a hired associate, Lawson B. Watson. Reports say they also used blank checks from the fund to pay a drug dealer for pain medication and that Wright kept and consumed roughly 150 pills that were meant to be disposed of through a police medication program.
“Fighting corruption is what we should do in law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling told reporters outside the courthouse after the plea. “Nothing makes a law‑enforcement officer madder than seeing police cross the line.”
Wright has rejected any excuse for his actions. In court he apologized to Spartanburg residents and to his fellow officers, acknowledging that he had squandered a dream job for personal gain. He faces up to 20 years in prison and could owe officials hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution.
The case underscores a broader push to curb misappropriation of public funds in South Carolina and shows the serious penalties awaiting officials who abuse their power. The federal charges now bring a legal end to Wright’s tenure as sheriff and a sobering reminder of the importance of accountability in public office.
Source: New York Post
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