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Former Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood Released from Federal Prison

By James Seidel
CC News Network

Former Chester County Sheriff George Alexander “Alex” Underwood, once a prominent figure in South Carolina law enforcement, has been released from federal prison after serving a sentence for corruption and other crimes committed during his tenure as sheriff.

Alex Underwood, 61, was released on Friday, according to confirmation from Federal Bureau of Prisons officials. His release comes after serving much of a 46-month sentence handed down in July 2022. The former sheriff, widely known by the nickname “Big A,” now faces three years of supervised release and restrictions related to his felony convictions.

Convictions and Charges

Alex Underwood’s legal troubles began in May 2019 when a federal grand jury indicted him on multiple charges, leading to his suspension by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. In a 2021 federal trial held in Columbia, Underwood was convicted on several charges, including:

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud: Underwood was found guilty of conspiring to defraud the government by misappropriating funds designated for law enforcement activities.
(Becky Hill, the former Clerk of Court is also alleged to have done a similar crime but has yet to be indicted by the feds or the state for any such crime).
Deprivation of rights under color of law: He violated civil rights by abusing his authority as sheriff.
Falsifying records: Underwood falsified documents to cover up misconduct.
Federal program theft: He used government resources, including deputies and taxpayer funds, for personal benefit. (Becky Hill, the former Clerk of Court is also alleged to have done a similar crime but has yet to be indicted by the feds or the state for any such crime).

The trial revealed that Underwood had ordered deputies to work on a “man cave” at his private property and misappropriated funds earmarked for DUI checkpoints, diverting the money for his own use.

Restitution and Barred Privileges

Underwood has paid nearly $30,000 in restitution as part of his sentence. However, his felony convictions permanently bar him from possessing firearms or holding law enforcement certification in South Carolina, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson Veronica Hill.

Additional State Charges

In May 2024, Alex Underwood pleaded guilty to South Carolina state charges of conspiracy, misconduct in office, and using his office for financial gain. His state sentence was ordered to run concurrently with his federal prison term.

Prison and Release Details

Alex Underwood served most of his sentence at Big Sandy Federal Prison in Kentucky, a high-security facility. In recent weeks, he was transferred to a halfway house near Raleigh, North Carolina, before his release. Federal prison officials declined to provide details about Underwood’s current living arrangements, citing confidentiality rules.

Big Sandy Federal Prison, Alex Underwood — Big Sandy Federal Prison

A Historic Tenure Tainted by Scandal

Alex Underwood made history in 2013 as Chester County’s first Black sheriff, serving two terms after being elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. A former agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Underwood was a prominent figure in the rural county, which lies between Rock Hill and Columbia.

His fall from grace was swift and severe after the 2019 indictment, and he ultimately failed in a 2020 re-election bid while under federal indictment.

Future Prospects

It remains unclear where Underwood will reside or what his plans are post-incarceration. Efforts to reach his attorney from the May 2024 guilty plea were unsuccessful. Underwood, now stripped of his law enforcement credentials and authority, faces a drastically altered life outside of public service.

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