SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright appeared in federal court Wednesday to face charges including misuse of public funds and wire fraud conspiracy. He previously agreed to plead guilty to those charges.
Wright, who led one of South Carolina’s largest sheriff’s offices, is accused of stealing money from the agency’s benevolence fund and using it to purchase illegal opioids. He also allegedly kept an acquaintance on the payroll with an inflated salary despite a lack of official duties.
“The Chuck Wright era is now over in Spartanburg County,” said Spartanburg County Councilman Monier Abusaft.
Federal court filings accuse Wright of misusing the sheriff’s office’s benevolence fund, a source intended to help deputies in times of loss or crisis. Documents state he used the money to buy illegal opioids and took pills collected through a drug take-back program…