SC

Lexington Sheriff Pleads “Not Guilty”

JAMES METTS REMAINS FREE ON $100,000 BOND Lexington, S.C. Sheriff James Metts – indicted last month by federal prosecutors – pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted bribes in exchange for granting special privileges to illegal immigrants. The veteran lawman – who served as Lexington Sheriff for more than four…

JAMES METTS REMAINS FREE ON $100,000 BOND

Lexington, S.C. Sheriff James Metts – indicted last month by federal prosecutors – pleaded not guilty to charges that he accepted bribes in exchange for granting special privileges to illegal immigrants.

The veteran lawman – who served as Lexington Sheriff for more than four decades – entered his plea at the Matthew J. Perry federal court house in downtown Columbia, S.C. on Tuesday.

He appeared alongside his wife and his attorney, Sherri Lydon – who proclaimed Metts’ innocence after he was slapped with a ten-count indictment last month.

Metts’ bond was set at $100,000 – a figure Lydon viewed as excessive.  Additionally the judge in the case – federal magistrate Shiva Hodges – ordered the complaint against the Sheriff sealed.

Four other individuals have been indicted by S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson for their roles in the “Lexington Ring,” a cabal of crooked cops and corrupt politicians that was relentlessly exposed in 2012-13 by this website.

For those of you new to this site, members of the “Lexington Ring” have been accused of running an illegal video poker operation based out of Lexington County, S.C.  Apparently they had their fingers in other pies as well …

And prosecutors familiar with the case tell FITS this is just the tip of the iceberg …

Details of the ring – including the mechanics of its operation and the cops and politicians it had on “lockdown” – were revealed in August 2012 thanks to audio recordings of part-time LCSD employee (and Lexington, S.C. town councilman) Danny Frazier.

Frazier was indicted by Wilson – along with South Congaree Police Chief Jason Amodio, who was specifically accused in the state indictment of accepting payment “in return for seized gaming machines.”

FITS was the first media outlet in the state to report on a joint state-federal raid of Amodio’s offices in May 2013 – noting that Amodio was one of the corrupt lawmen mentioned by Frazier in the audio recordings as providing protection for video poker machines run by the “Ring.”

Metts is currently suspended from office pending the outcome of the charges against him.

As we’ve noted from the beginning of our coverage of the “Ring,” we continue to believe that all forms of gambling should be legalized in South Carolina.  In fact these scandals have only heightened our resolve to integrate them into the free market – eliminating the current government-run gambling monopoly (as well as all of this backdoor corruption).

In fact we wrote on this very subject just this week … 

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48 comments

Fat Greg Dulli July 1, 2014 at 12:37 pm

Squeal little piggy, squeal!

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Will Folks aka Sic July 1, 2014 at 12:50 pm

I love you, Greg Dulli.

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The Colonel July 1, 2014 at 1:50 pm

Wait, based on the bromance articles you’ve been writing, we assumed you were in love with T-Rav!

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Fat Greg Dulli July 1, 2014 at 2:47 pm

There’s enough of Will to go around.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein July 1, 2014 at 4:48 pm

*concerned*

Greg…..Why are you wearing those sunglasses again?

Don’t try to tell TBG you “walked into a door”!!

SCBlues July 2, 2014 at 5:02 am

Get a room.

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junior justice July 1, 2014 at 12:59 pm

$100,000 bond — chicken feed! The next time we hear about Metts he will be found hiding in the mountains of Puebla, Mexico.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 1, 2014 at 1:32 pm

I couldn’t help but guffaw when I saw where his attorney said that amount was, “excessive”. He can probably shit that out easier than you or I could come up with a century note. Of course, this pesky investigation may have seriously disrupted his cash flow. That begs another question, is he suspended “with pay” or “without pay”? Hey Will, Enquiring minds want to know!

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Lexington Voter July 1, 2014 at 1:04 pm

Cannot help but wonder if his close associates and party friends, Bob Peeler, Tim James, Randy Halfacre, Kermit LaForce, are not concerned?
Especially since the news reports are that Frazier is singing like an Opera Star!

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CorruptionInColumbia July 1, 2014 at 1:30 pm

Isn’t Kermit already doing time in a Federal joint?

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Disgusted July 1, 2014 at 9:18 pm

Laforce already did federal time in 2010 I believe…not that it mattered to Metts. They partied together in 2012 at the Darlington race & cozied up to Mike Huckabee… Laforce, like Rogers, likes to throw around big names.

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Disgusted July 1, 2014 at 9:14 pm

Don’t forget Darren Rogers, the former owner of the “gang bang” motor home & Laforce’s “special friend”.

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Mandy July 2, 2014 at 1:27 pm

Lie with dogs, get up with fleas! This bunch has fleas, ticks, mites and the mange. All are either liars, criminals, cheats, or adulterers. Most are a combination of this list. The only truth Frazier ever told was when he referred to the women as “Hoes”, he got that part right!

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HestillcrazyafteralltheseYears July 18, 2014 at 11:18 pm

Squeal like a psycho Mike Gulledge

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Thomas July 1, 2014 at 1:34 pm

Plaster Metts’ mugshot all over the front pages of those “mugshot” periodicals his old department supports. You know, the one’s you see in 7-11’s.

Let’s see his mugshot plastered all over WLTX and ColaDaily and TheState for weeks and months on end…or simply end the practice.

Metts may keep his firearms but must not transport or purchase. I can’t see allowing him and supra rights. Upon conviction, he must give them up. He is suspended without pay.

“Rat out Jake Knotts” shout out goes to Flynn, Metts, and Frazier!!!

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The Colonel July 1, 2014 at 1:51 pm

Still looking for the stainless steel bracelets for Lil’Stevie Beenjamin…

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Fat Greg Dulli July 1, 2014 at 2:47 pm

He’s on his climate change campaign now, aka smoke and mirrors to try and deflect all the negative press he’s generating for himself. What a pathetic excuse for a city leader.

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ThunderStruck July 1, 2014 at 3:53 pm

While his attorney may think this amount is “excessive”, I am sure that many were thinking it would be much much more! I know he only made 118,000.00 a year (yeah, on the up & up) but what about the “excessive” amount of money he made in his many illegal ventures! Currently, his financial worth is in excess of $500,000.00 and his charges are serious enough that they required investigation from multiple agencies….100grand is a slap in the face of us all! Beyond that, why shouldn’t his mugshot be seen, he has been arrested and charged formally and should not be given any preferential treatment. Well anyway I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next issue of “JAIL BIRDS” and we shall see….

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CorruptionInColumbia July 1, 2014 at 4:10 pm

No argument at all on the “JAILBIRDS” pics! Unfortunately, unless there is a conviction, that is not likely to happen. Because of his “status”, I seem to recall reading that he got to bypass that trip to jail thing that most of us would have been subjected to had we been indicted for similar or even lesser crimes.

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ThunderStruck July 1, 2014 at 4:23 pm

Maybe now would be a great time for the new Boss in town to make good on his promise to uphold the law and not grant him ANY special treatment….good ole boys still workin?! Even is he was granted a “pass” he still would have been booked..

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CorruptionInColumbia July 1, 2014 at 4:26 pm

I agree fully. It appears that the bulk of any current charges are Federal in nature, therefore they are outside the scope of the New Boss to deal with. If any state level charges are in the mix, they are in SLED’s domain and the same applies to them. I have heard a few tidbits of gossip which give me hope for the New Boss and his administration. I hope they are all accurate.

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ThunderStruck July 1, 2014 at 4:39 pm

Am totally in support of the New Boss as he seems to be an honest guy from what I have learned. I would like to think that he left the LCSD many years ago because he didn’t agree with Metts’ way of thinking. I definitely failed to remember these are federal charges, easy to do when you are typing and angry! Please excuse the oversight….but at any rate, he should not be afforded ANY special treatment

CorruptionInColumbia July 1, 2014 at 4:58 pm

Don’t worry about it, man. There is so much corruption and news of corruption, it is kind of impossible to keep up with every detail of every perp that’s out there. I was watching the video on WIS’s site and he didn’t look very happy, walking with his attorney and wife (first time I recall seeing her with him on the news in forever. I guess it makes for a good prop to have your wife in court with you.)

ThunderStruck July 1, 2014 at 5:07 pm

Lady writer here, and you’re right, to much crap and not enough time to keep up with it all! Yeah I saw the same and if that were my husband and I was there to support him and he hardly even acknowledged I was there….well, let’s just say he would have gone in ALONE! I’ve heard a little gossip on the marital situation and it’s not good…. we’ll see if it’s true.

Timmy Tebow July 1, 2014 at 6:09 pm

Lady writer on the TV,
Talking ’bout the Virgin Mary…

CorruptionInColumbia July 2, 2014 at 3:14 pm

Oops. Sorry about the mistake, I agree with you about going in alone. We’ve probably heard some of the same stories. Apparently these Lexington (maybe a lot of Southern) “elite” women accept the deal because they get a nice house to live in, a nice car to drive, the social “status” of being a politician’s wife and the recognition that goes with it at church, society parties, and the like. How else do you explain women being married to some of these cruds like Jake and staying on and putting up with the stuff that apparently goes on? They make an appearance when required for court, for re-election, and the like, and both parties seem to be “happy”.

ThunderStruck July 2, 2014 at 5:03 pm

No problem and NO DOUBT! I’m thinking, behind every good ole’ boy there is a good ole’ girl. They clearly have some sort of idea of what their spouses are up to, especially if they are living beyond their means.

Thomas July 1, 2014 at 4:19 pm

An appointment will be made for him to report to the holding/processing area in the basement of the Matthew Perry US District Court House. He will have to report to the US Marshals in the court house basement to be “booked”…get his mug taken, printed etc….and very soon. He will also be appointed a probation officer while on bail. This PO will compile a Pre-Sentence Report verifying all his information and background. This PO is the voice the Judge hears best when time to sentence.

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ThunderStruck July 1, 2014 at 4:48 pm

Thanks for the info…. I am sure someone will be happy to “leak” a mugshot pic, we’ll see.

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nitrat July 1, 2014 at 11:13 pm

they do a pre-sentence report and probation officer prior to conviction?

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Thomas July 2, 2014 at 11:43 am

No and yes. The PSIR is compiled by a PO after a conviction and before a sentence is handed down. A PO is assigned if out on bail.

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James July 1, 2014 at 7:51 pm

Bond is set to deter flight. Its not a punishment. He is innocent until proven guilty. The Judge sets bond based on his assessment of the risk of flight. His ties to the county, family and real property holdings would make flight for these charges unlikely. Further, no doubt a significant portion of his net worth has now been paid to his defense Attorney.

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Scooter July 1, 2014 at 9:27 pm

If his net worth is only $500,000.000,then he was not doing much or he is plain stupid. I don’t believe either one.

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ThunderStruck July 1, 2014 at 9:44 pm

Seriously, I do NOT think any of this is being reported factually. The idea of that is laughable. In light of the charges brought against him, the amount of bond is ridiculous. He is the head of law enforcement in Lexington County, clearly knew what he was doing AND that it was against the law. Further, isn’t lovely that he doesn’t cough up a bit of money for this “bond”. Maybe that’s just to help him out so that when the state charges come down he’ll be able to make bail!

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EDR July 2, 2014 at 3:28 pm

I KNOW A MAN ARRESTED BY UNDERCOVER LEXINGTON DEPUTY FOR
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR IN THE SECOND DEGREE WHOSE BOND
WAS 400,000 IN 2009, HE HIRED JACK SWERLING AND CASE WHEN TO COURT
5.14.14. PLED GUILTY FOR 10 COUNTS AT THIRD DEGREE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
OF A MINOR. SENTENCE WAS 10 YEARS SUSPENDED TO 5 YEARS PROBATION.
THATS LEXINGTON COUNTY JUSTICE FOR YOU.

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ThunderStruck July 2, 2014 at 5:11 pm

Just read a story about a man that was arrested for impersonating an officer to gain entry to a motel room that was occupied by two females. LCSD made the arrest, and I believe he was also charged for kidnapping.. Bond set at $225,000.00…..I know this is a serious crime and he deserves that, which brings me to my point AGAIN…Metts bond should have been much much more than it was. Hell, maybe they should charge HIM with impersonating an officer!

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Freddy July 3, 2014 at 7:27 am

That’s because the minor was 16, looked 25 and was more promiscuous than your wife.

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Greg July 3, 2014 at 7:23 am

There is no mug shot because there is no booking or arrest in the federal system. You are a moron.

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ThunderStruck July 3, 2014 at 9:15 am

Well thank you Greg for your most intelligent opinion, now please take a seat and wait for me to give a shit. Bless your heart and have a nice day :)

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neighbor July 1, 2014 at 5:02 pm

Now would be a good time for Stace to clear his good name. Shame on Jimmy for framing him.

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Cwpdan July 3, 2014 at 7:34 am

I am so glad others know about the frame up of Stace. Unfortunately the damage is done, there are others that were made an example of by sled recently and now with recent changes in law would not have been charged at all. Shameful

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Soft Sigh from Hell July 1, 2014 at 6:19 pm

Thank you, Danny Boy! You are a scumbag but at least you brought us the Metts Perp Walk. That there isn’t any trivial nothing.
.
And who was the guy we owe for releasing the tape? I forget his name and current fate.

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James sanders July 2, 2014 at 12:06 am

Good sources say it was Jamie Lucas and Stace day who touched off the fire storm that is burning down lexington county’s corrupt with the audio tapes from Danny Frazier own mouth that has got it all to this point and it continues to expand the Feds and state’s investigation.

Their fate is safe and if sources are correct, there are so many people that thank them for having the courage and integrity to take on the very powerful in lexington county to show what these people truly are.

There is rumored that support is growing for Jamie Lucas or Stace day to run for lexington county sheriff and restore trust through out the entire county community and continue to rid the county of the corrupt where ever it is found. They have my vote and the vote of the momentum of support that is growing.

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aikencounty July 2, 2014 at 5:40 am

Nice comb-over.

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Sam July 2, 2014 at 8:00 am

Local magistrates relied on a “legal opinion” extolling the legitimacy of sweepstakes gambling written by attorneys neck deep in this ring. The firm of former Senator David Thomas represents many of these nefarious characters. You should investigate this connection vigorously.

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Jackie Chiles July 2, 2014 at 11:26 am

Metts is done here.

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CorruptionInColumbia July 2, 2014 at 3:18 pm

God, we hope!!!!! I have seen the Phoenix rise out of its own sewage before, though. Remember Ted Kennedy.

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EDR July 2, 2014 at 3:23 pm

METTS ATTORNEY DID NOT WANT TO TELL JUDGE WHAT THE 600,000
MORTGAGE WAS FOR. ITS SIMPLE THE ATTORNEYS REQUIRE A RETAINER
BEFORE THEY WILL DO ANY WORK.

Reply

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