Indicted for failure to enforce immigration law.
Via WISTV
Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts, the longest serving sheriff in South Carolina history, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of public corruption and accepting bribes.
In the news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the federal government says Metts “accepted bribes from friends in return for using his position, power, and influence as Sheriff to interfere with the proper identification and processing” of undocumented immigrants.
The federal indictments allege Metts received cash from former Lexington County Councilman Danny Frazier and Gregorio Leon, the owner of several Mexican restaurants in the Columbia area, for circumventing a federal immigration program designed to aid the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement program in detaining those who were in the country illegally.
“When Metts was informed of an arrest and detention of an illegal alien working for Leon, Metts would contact his command staff and other employees to instruct that preferential treatment be provided to those specific illegal aliens,” said the indictment.
Frazier, who resigned from his seat in January for reasons unrelated to the federal charges, was under a SLED investigation for his alleged involvement in a video poker ring.
In all, Metts has been charged with conspiracy to violate federal law and interfere with government function, use of interstate facility to facilitate bribery in violation of South Carolina code, use of interstate wire to defraud the citizens of Lexington County of their right to honest services, and conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens.
Metts faces years in prison or thousands of dollars in fines if he is convicted.
“Public corruption at any level will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles.
In the meantime, Gov. Nikki Haley has suspended Metts as sheriff and appointed Alfred “Lewis” McCarty in his stead.
The state indictments have also ensnared former South Congaree Police Chief Jason Amodio. Court documents allege Amodio accepted payment in return for seized gaming machines.