Lexington Co. Sheriff James Metts Indicted: Accused of Bribery

LEXINGTON, SC (WOLO)–Today U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles announced that Sheriff James Metts has been charged by a federal grand jury in a 10 count indictment. The indictment alleges Metts accepted bribes in connection with a scheme to aid illegal aliens. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Metts is accused of accepting bribes from friends in return for using his position, power, and influence as Sherriff to interfere with the proper identification and processing of certain illegal aliens detained at the Lexington County Detention Center. According to U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles, two others, Danny Frazier (46) and Greg Leon (47), both of Lexington, SC, have also been charged by the State Grand Jury, accused of bribing Metts. Metts is South Carolina’s Longest serving Sheriff. Below is a part of the release from the U.S. Attorney’s office: United States Attorney Bill Nettles was joined in making the announcement by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Special Agent in Charge David A. Thomas of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kenneth R. Burkhart of Homeland Security Investigations; and Chief Mark Keel of the State Law Enforcement Division. “Public corruption at any level will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Bill Nettles. “These indictments are a product of a new team at the United States Attorney‘s Office whose goal is to use an unprecedented level of cooperation with state and federal agencies in routing out public corruption and returning public trust to the people.”