Why It Matters
A South Carolina federal corruption case tied to former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright is moving toward its final sentencing phase, with prosecutors pressing a federal judge to impose prison terms on two former sheriff’s office employees who allegedly helped sustain years of fraud at taxpayer expense.
What Happened
Federal prosecutors have urged U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Cain to sentence Lawson “LB” Watson and Amos Durham — both former Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office employees — within the advisory guidelines range when the two appear before the court on July 9, 2026.
Watson and Durham are accused of playing central roles in a public corruption scheme led by Wright. Prosecutors say both men enriched themselves while abusing positions of public trust, and a victim impact statement submitted by Spartanburg County underscored the damage caused to the institution and to county employees who relied on it.
Wright himself is scheduled to be sentenced two days earlier, on July 7.
Watson’s Alleged Conduct
According to prosecutors, Watson collected a $57,000 annual salary while performing little or no actual work for the county. Over time, he accepted nearly $350,000 in total salary and benefits he allegedly did not earn. An anonymous complaint had flagged Watson as reporting to work only a handful of times per year, and an investigation involving more than twenty witness interviews confirmed those allegations.
Watson also allegedly ran a private paving business during county work hours, using county-owned equipment and vehicles to do so. His advisory sentencing range is 10 to 16 months in prison.
Durham’s Alleged Conduct
Durham administered the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Benevolence Fund, a resource meant to provide emergency financial relief to deputies in need. Prosecutors allege he made cash withdrawals from the fund despite explicit prohibitions against them, and that he wrote checks directly to Wright — payments prosecutors say helped finance Wright’s prescription drug addiction.
Durham also allegedly used fund money to purchase clothing for himself. Together, Wright and Durham are accused of diverting more than $95,000 from the fund. As a result, deputies who sought emergency financial assistance were denied because the account had been depleted. Durham’s advisory sentencing range is 6 to 12 months in prison.
By the Numbers
$350,000 — Total salary and benefits Watson allegedly accepted without earning
$57,000 — Watson’s annual salary
$95,000+ — Amount Wright and Durham allegedly diverted from the benevolence fund
20+ — Witnesses interviewed during the investigation
10–16 months / 6–12 months — Advisory prison ranges for Watson and Durham, respectively
Zoom Out
The Spartanburg case reflects a broader pattern of local law enforcement corruption prosecutions that federal authorities have pursued across the South in recent years. Cases involving sheriff’s offices — where a single elected official often controls staffing, budgets, and internal oversight — have drawn particular attention from the Justice Department. A separate South Carolina case earlier this year also raised questions about accountability within county law enforcement agencies, when a planning commissioner who held a law enforcement designation drew a firearm during a public meeting.
Benevolence or hardship funds, often funded by donations and managed informally within law enforcement agencies, have emerged in several cases as vulnerable to misappropriation due to limited external oversight.
What’s Next
Chuck Wright’s sentencing is set for July 7, 2026, before the same federal court. Watson and Durham will follow on July 9. Judge Cain will determine whether to impose sentences within, above, or below the advisory guidelines ranges recommended by prosecutors. The outcome of Wright’s sentencing may provide additional context for how the court weighs the conduct of his co-defendants.