Federal prosecutors say Charles “Chuck” Wright misused charity funds, taxpayer money and obtained prescription drugs by deception
By: Tracy Sanders, Publisher
tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Charles “Chuck” Wright has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison in connection with a public corruption scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
Wright, 61, of Wellford, was sentenced Tuesday, July 7, after being convicted of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation.
Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Wright to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, there is no parole in the federal system.
Federal prosecutors said evidence in the investigation showed Wright misused money from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain’s Benevolence Fund, a nonprofit organization created to help sheriff’s office deputies and their families during times of need, including bereavement, financial hardship and traumatic line-of-duty events.
According to prosecutors, Wright hired Amos Durham as director of the Benevolence Fund and then directed Durham to withdraw cash and write checks to Wright. Prosecutors said Wright used the money for his own personal benefit instead of for deputies and families in need.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said one employee’s family sought help from the fund to cover hospice bills but was turned away because the fund was empty. Another deputy who asked for assistance after a tree fell on the deputy’s home was also turned away.
Around the same time, prosecutors said Wright took more than $89,000 in donated cash from the Benevolence Fund for private use, including personal purchases, hotel rooms, food and travel expenses.
Prosecutors also said Wright charged more than $17,000 in personal expenses to a county credit card, including fitness programs, Apple products, online games and streaming platform subscriptions.
The investigation also found that Wright employed and paid his cousin, Lawson Watson, at least $200,000 in taxpayer funds for what prosecutors described as a no-show job over a four-year period.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Wright hired Watson as a Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office employee in March 2005. Prosecutors said Watson received salary and benefits for work he did not perform from at least January 2021 through March 2025. Wright knew his cousin was not working and allowed him to continue receiving pay and benefits, prosecutors said.
Wright also provided Watson with the use of a county vehicle and county phone for his private job, according to federal prosecutors.
In addition to the financial misconduct, prosecutors said Wright obtained controlled substances under false pretenses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wright repeatedly obtained oxycodone and hydrocodone pills by misleading employees and members of the public, telling them the pills were part of the sheriff’s office narcotics “take back” disposal program.
Prosecutors said Wright instead obtained the drugs for his own personal use. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wright targeted people in the sheriff’s office and the community who were experiencing loss or medical hardship, including at funerals, at church and following surgery.
Federal prosecutors also said Wright, while in uniform, purchased drugs from a street-level pill dealer on several occasions in the sheriff’s office parking lot.
“Wright’s abuses represent a grave violation of public trust. He let down the people who elected him to serve,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate public corruption and hold those who abuse their positions of power accountable.”
FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore said the sentencing shows there are consequences when public officials violate the trust placed in them.
“There is a real cost for tarnishing the badge and the trust it represents, and former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright will now face that consequence,” Moore said.
Tenth Circuit Solicitor Micah Black also commented on the case, saying his office was proud to partner with SLED, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“Public trust in our institutions cannot be undermined, and today’s sentence should send a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated,” Black said.
Wright’s two co-defendants, Amos Durham and Lawson Watson, are scheduled to be sentenced Thursday, July 9.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris and Criminal Chief Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.
