Former Spartanburg Sheriff Chuck Wright Faces Federal Wire Fraud, Theft Charges

Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright appeared in federal court on October 27 for arraignment alongside his co-defendants Amos Durham and Lawson Watson, all facing charges related to embezzlement and fraud. Wright agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit theft concerning federally funded programs, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and obtaining controlled substances through misrepresentation, with allegations including stealing from the sheriff's office chaplain's benevolence fund to support his drug habit. Durham and Watson also pled guilty to related charges, with Watson accused of receiving paychecks without performing job duties. Wright's bond includes a mandate to enter a substance abuse treatment program, and all three received unsecured bonds of $25,000. The estimated proceeds from Wright's wrongdoing exceed $450,000, and he faces possible prison time and fines, potentially up to 29 years if sentences are consecutive. The defendants are scheduled to enter formal pleas on October 30, with the case highlighting corruption within the sheriff's office over several years.