BROKEN BADGES: Sheriff Chuck Wright Enters Rehab Amid FBI Probe, Sources Say
By James Seidel | CC News Network
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg County Sheriffhttp://www.spartanburgsheriff.org/ Chuck Wright has taken an indefinite leave of absence and checked into a rehabilitation facility, reminiscent of when Alex Murdaugh ran to rehab prior to his arrest, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter, including current and former sheriff’s office employees.
The announcement was reportedly made during a closed-door command staff meeting on April 1, where Wright was accompanied by his legal counsel, former U.S. Congressman and federal prosecutor Trey Gowdy. Neither Wright, Gowdy, nor Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Kevin Bobo responded to requests for comment from CC News Network.
The leave comes as multiple sources confirm the FBI is actively investigating Wright. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment, citing federal policy that prohibits confirming or denying ongoing investigations.
Broken Badges: County, State Officials React
Spartanburg County Communications Manager Scottie Kay Blackwell confirmed Wright’s absence, stating, “We are aware that the Sheriff has taken a leave of absence; however, we do not have any additional information at this time and it would be inappropriate for us to speculate.”
Blackwell said Chief Deputy Billy Paris is now overseeing the sheriff’s office and that operations will continue without disruption.
County Council members were notified of Wright’s leave on the afternoon of April 1.
“These are difficult jobs, and I know this is a difficult time for this to happen with these transparency issues going on,” Councilman Monier Abusaft said. “Our command structure for law enforcement is clear, and we’re going to continue as a county council and county staff to make sure that public safety is being provided.”
Council Vice Chairman David Britt told local media he was informed by County Administrator Cole Alverson that Wright was taking “an indefinite leave for medical reasons” requiring long-term treatment.
Broken Badges: Credit Card Controversy, Ethics Probe Loom
Wright’s decision to step away follows a string of controversies. In 2023, The Post and Courier revealed that Wright made over $53,000 in purchases using his county-issued credit card without submitting receipts, dating back to December 2017. The sheriff later repaid just $1,111 of that total and has yet to publicly explain the discrepancy. Following the report, the county revoked Wright’s access to the card.
In addition, Wright is under investigation by the South Carolina State Ethics Commission for hiring his son, Andy Wright, to a position within the sheriff’s office — a move that has raised serious questions about nepotism and conflict of interest.
The commission declined to confirm or deny whether an official investigation is underway, citing policy.
Broken Badges: Silence from Law Enforcement Agencies
Requests for information from several state and federal agencies yielded few details:
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Governor’s Office: “The Governor’s Office has not had any contact with or involvement in recent matters concerning Sheriff Wright.”
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SLED: “SLED does not have any information on this matter at this time.”
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FBI: “Because of federal laws, including the Privacy Act, FBI policy prohibits confirming or denying if we are conducting an investigation.”
Broken Badges: Support from Peers
Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis released a brief statement of support for Wright, saying, “We’re here for the men and women of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office in any way. We are praying for Sheriff Wright and his family and look forward to him being healthy again.”
Wright has served as sheriff since 2004 and was most recently reelected in November. His abrupt departure marks one of the most significant leadership shake-ups in Spartanburg County law enforcement in two decades.
This is a developing story. Follow CC News Network’s Broken Badges series for continued updates.
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If you want to investigate, multiple people who know him say Lawson Berry Watson (LB Watson) was hired by Chuck as his “chief code enforcer” to the tune of 54k a year. Mr. Watson, according to the internet, has an associates degree in criminal justice from a diploma mill named Columbus University. They appear to be unaccredited. Mr. Watson according to FITSNews https://www.fitsnews.com/2025/04/02/federal-grand-jury-to-convene-probe-of-spartanburg-county-sheriff-sources-say/ is not certified to be a deputy for the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s office despite having that listed as an occupation. Further, it is reported that LB doesn’t report to the Sheriff’s office for work. What this article doesn’t say is that Lawson Berry Watson is reportedly Chuck Wright’s cousin, and they refer to each other as cousin. This is potentially another nepotism violation.