Michael Cox and Christopher Worth, Bid Rigging, North Carolina 2023
Two law enforcement officials have been accused of abusing their power in a shocking bid rigging scheme that has left the community reeling.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on August 17, 2023, against Michael Kenneth Cox, 48, and Christopher C. Worth, 52, both former and current Wayne County Sheriff's deputies.
According to the indictment, Cox and Worth allegedly conspired to steer contracts for the upfits of Wayne County Sheriff's Office vehicles to a business owned by Cox and employing Worth, regardless of whether Cox's company provided such work at the lowest price as required by the Wayne County procurement requirements.
Cox, who was employed by the WCSO from 1996 until he retired as the head of the Drug Unit in 2018, was indicted on 12 separate fraud charges. He was also charged with conspiring with multiple drug traffickers to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone, and two counts of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Worth, who joined the WCSO in 1993 and currently serves as a Major overseeing all of WCSO criminal enforcement sections and WCSO's Support Services, was also indicted on 12 separate fraud charges.
'Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve our communities by upholding the rule of law,' said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. 'Our office will continue to hold accountable those who violate the public trust and abuse their position for personal gain.'
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis Duffy and Nick Hartigan prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-260.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →