⏱ 2 min read
Lawson B. Watson, 74, and Amos Durham, 62, former employees of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina, were sentenced for their roles in a public corruption scheme led by former Sheriff Chuck Wright. The scheme, which lasted from 2021 to 2025, involved Watson receiving a no-show job with a $57,000 annual salary and full benefits, as well as a county-issued vehicle with unlimited gas. Durham, who served as a chaplain, was also involved in the scheme.
Watson was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison, with a three-year term of supervised release, and ordered to pay $349,885.22 in restitution. Durham, on the other hand, received a five-year probationary sentence and was ordered to pay $95,442.39 in restitution.
The sentencing of Watson and Durham follows the sentencing of former Sheriff Chuck Wright, who received a 41-month prison sentence for his role in the corruption scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, along with state and federal law enforcement partners, investigated and prosecuted the case.
The corruption scheme has been condemned by U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling, who stated that the taxpayers of Spartanburg County and the members of the Sheriff’s Office deserved better. The case highlights the need for continued vigilance in combating public corruption in South Carolina.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Public Corruption
- Defendant: South Carolina
- Location: SC
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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