SOUTH CAROLINA SCANDAL MAKES NATIONAL NEWS …
A few months ago, the saga of the “Lexington Ring” appeared destined for the crowded dustbin of Palmetto State scandals that never popped …
Today? The scandal (one of many we’re tracking in this state) is making national news in the pages of The New York Times.
Reporter Richard Fausset traveled to Lexington, S.C. to tell the story of disgraced Sheriff James Metts – who last month was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly accepting bribes.
Also indicted in connection with the Metts’ probe? Former Lexington, S.C. town councilman Danny Frazier and South Congaree, S.C. police chief Jason Amodio – both of whom have been linked to an illegal video poker operation that was relentlessly exposed in 2012-13 by this website. Seriously … we crawled up the backside of this scandal. And didn’t leave.
Anyway …
Fausset’s story – which you can read by clicking HERE – included an interesting conversation between the reporter and an illegal alien from Lexington who offered his thoughts on the scandal.
“Corruption – just like in Mexico,” the illegal alien told Fausset. “Usually, you can’t just bribe a police officer in this country.”
True … unless you’re in South Carolina.
Fausset’s story also contained an interesting conversation with a 53-year-old air conditioning installer, who said immigration reform would never pass because “the good ol’ boys club are not going to allow it.”
“There’s money to be made,” the man told Fausset.
And plenty of politicians/ police officers waiting to be purchased …
74 comments
Bet Metts, Frasier, Amodio, et al feel like real big shots now. Those 15 minutes of fame come with a handsome price tag, fellas. Those of whom are involved and are feeling like the spotlight hasn’t shown on them yet, just wait it’s coming around.
Page A1. Ouch. Cue “The New York Times is a Yankee newspaper” crowd.
It was linked from the Drudge Report … a website that easily gets several million hits a day. Sic broke this story first. I remember when he reported on what he heard was going on.
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Maybe we should start calling him, “T-Boner” in remembrance of what he probably had when he was in his hotel room with the white stripper and also what it won’t do him much good to have around Deandrea since that news came out.
Hi Shifty Henry! I see you are here among us. Glad you are still around! Can you tap on the wall? One for “yes”, two for “no”. Let us know what we can do to get you back on this side with us.
Is that a photo of little jimmy hustling up his gang? He started early on those street corners.
Hmmm….thought Boz used the ‘shifty henry’ avatar on another blog? Probably mistaken. Hey ‘shifty’! :-)
WELCOME BACK, Shifty!!!!
BEECH BE-45 T-34 (A,B,C) Mentor 2-seater, 450 HP, single engine piston or turbo prop. Used for Navy training since they were manufactured in 1948. The last Turbo-Mentor rolled off the production line in 1990.
n 2004, due to a series of crashes involving in-flight structural failure during simulated combat flights, the entire US civilian fleet of T-34A/Bs was grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration. The grounding has since been eased to a slate of restrictions on the permitted flight envelope. Via a series of Airworthiness Directives (ADs) established by or Alternate Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) negotiated with the FAA, including installation of certain, approved structural modifications to the wing spar (the wing separates in mid air) and other repairs, the T-34A and T-34B fleet in 2011 has been restored to full flight status by FAA at the Mentor’s originally designed limitations, provided each individual example is compliant with those ADs and AMOCs.
Several crashes lately landing with unextended gear, a couple with a wing hitting the runway on takeoff.. one disappeared during a storm, but they found the pieces.
But I couldn’t find a single reference to a plane of that type in florida or the virgin islands in the last three months in any of the accident/incident databases with any injuries (some deaths, though).
not dead will type details in full to copy and paste here hurts to type thanks
Instead of full details right now (hurts to type) How about the N-Number of the plane, zip code, phone number of the airport or hospital? I’ll do the detective work from there.
Shifty can’t give you the n-number of the plane because he probably got the make of it from a doctor in the hospital. My guess is that he stole a plane after taking some piloting lessons. Then he probably took off for God knows where in the Caribbean. He was then probably shot down by the Bahamian Navy because he didn’t know the proper radio etiquette. Determining that he was just a stupid idiot, lost and incompetent, the Bahamian government is keeping him at an isolated location to avoid an international diplomatic confrontation with the US. They probably let him post only on Fitsnews because (my guess) the Bahamians think it is a harmless site and it keeps him quiet.
I didn’t even think of that!
But Max, if it were true then why didn’t Bahama offer to return me to the US in an exchange? Say, like for ten Hooters girls?
They didn’t?
Besides, you aren’t worth ten Hooters girls.
So, is it time to tell us about the drug deal gone wrong?
Are you ready to face your psychotic dementia about the “incident,” and talk about your harrowing experience in the waters of the Caribbean yet?
— maybe….soon
Pretty good there, Junior. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it as far as the Bahamas. But do come back and visit here again.
I agree with T-Boner as well, but for different reason, as that’s gonna be his bitch name in the joint.
Will the new regime do the right thing and remove the cloak of secrecy installed by Metts over 15 years ago when LCSD went to full time encryption on its radio system, thereby keeping Lexington County residents from knowing what is going on in their neighborhoods? Metts obviously had something to hide from the people and removing the encryption would be a great stride toward restoring trust in LCSD.
…shroud of secrecy…
A cousin of the Cone of Silence?
If it gets to be that we can start to openly bribe officers here in the US, our freedom will increase slightly.
Given how little the average police officer is paid in SC, the bribes won’t be that much. A little food, maybe some gas for the car…
Integrity is something you either have or do not have, regardless of how much or how little you are making. That said, truthmonger is on target about their salaries.
I just wonder when people are going to realize Danny Frazier is buddy buddy with none other than the newly appointed sheriff’s stepson. Shouldn’t that cause some kind of conflict?
What fucking grade are you in?
Robert “Fat Boy” is that you?
no, friend, i am not local, but if people went to jail for being friends with someones stepson every pol I know would be in jail. Not saying that “birds of a feather “is not meaningful but the expectation o youar part is naive. Sorry I was so harsh before I am sure that you meant well.
I can promise you this, Sheriff McCarty is straight as an arrow and no amount of money, nor anything else could tempt him, nor cause him to do anything remotely questionable. Had he been the Chief Deputy for the past 12 years, Frazier would have NOT been hired at lex. Co. Sheriff’s Dept. and the crimes which took place would have never happened! metts is an idiot, inticed by people of questionable character! Lewis McCarty does not have a corrupt cell in his body. Approach him with something illegal and I will guarantee you a shiny set of cuffs, a hard cot and cell for your accomadations!
I’ve known him for 35-40 years and trust him implicitly.
I never said he could be swayed or tempted by anything. I’m just stating that someone very close to him is friends with Frazier. I have always had the utmost respect for him, but his stepson, not so much.
Seriously … we crawled up the backside of this scandal. And didn’t leave.
TBG would go so far as to say that FITS “broke it off” inside the scandal.
Metaphorically, of course.
Kudos.
The ever evolving “Lexington Ring” scandal demonstrates that
there is no bottom to the corruption, and buffoonery, the political folks in
Lexington County are capable of engaging in.
The essential qualification to run for office in Lexington County is to
think that the good people of Lexington County will believe anything you tell
them. A case in point is the dramatic announcement
by the West Columbia Police Chief that he is going to run for Sheriff. Now, he claims that he had already decided to
run against Metts way before those indictments were announced. Yeah, that’s the ticket, he decided to run
way before Metts got his tits caught in the ringer. It was his plan all along, since way back, to
take on the sitting Sheriff. If you
believe that, then somebody is probably going to sell you the Gervais Street Bridge. The first thing out of this guy’s mouth was a
bald face lie. Not particularly
surprising, but you would think he would not be so obvious about it. The fact that the election is two years off
and his announcement was made the very day of Metts’ arraignment in Federal
Court was a sheer coincidence. Yeah, it was all just a big coincidence. He would have garnered a lot more respect
(which would have been about as much as he has) if he had just come out and
said “I am a shameless backstabber and opportunist looking to take advantage of
the county and this situation!”
The Chief was not content to just prevaricate about the
timing and basis for his decision. He
then made the astounding announcement that he was going to ask the West
Columbia City Council for permission to campaign for the office of
Sheriff. Ask permission? This guy is such a marshmallow that he can’t
seek office without getting the OK from a government body. He’ll be easy to
spot on the campaign trail because he will be the one carrying around the
safety net. Now that the West Columbia
City Council has benevolently allowed this weasel to run, who is he going to be
beholden to? Will he favor the citizens
of Lexington County or the Councilmen who allowed him to run for office? Let’s face it, the West Columbia City Council
has for intents and purposes endorsed this guy.
This is just what Lexington County needs at this time; a salivating lackey
wearing knee pads who is too gutless to stand on his own two feet.
He will be the ideal Sheriff for Lexington County
I don’t have a dog in that fight (yet) but you are not correct. Tyndall said he would not run against Metts, just like a lot have said, because Metts was next-to unbeatable.
Tyndall said it has been an longtime ambition of his to be sheriff, but he did not say he had decided to run against Metts. That’s just erroneous, and so typical of the FITS-level of fodder and character assassination. .
Hey never let facts stop you Owens did not vote in favor of Tyndall run. Joe does not like Tyndall at all. And if he could he would show him the door.
This was not meant for you but the first post sorry about that
Sorry,but he is big buddies, or was with Frazier, James, Peeler, et al.
I am not saying he does not know those guys but knowing them does not mean he do the illegal stuff with them.
Sorry, I know Joe too well and have for a long,long time.
He was MUCH to close to these reprobates, to not know of their illegal, immoral and unethical activities! Joe knew, and continued his association with and support of all of them: Halfacre, Frazier, Amodio, Peeler, James et al. I’d put NOTHING past any of them Joe included.
Look at Benjamine here in Columbia and his associates! If you associate with criminals, theives, liars, gamblers, adulterers, you accept their activities, partake in those activities and become the same.
Personally, I would not associate with any of this trash.
Joe and Roxanne Wilson were also very cozy with many of these people! They had better watch out for their associates and FRIENDS too!
If you are not dirty, you don’t play with dirt and Joe and Roxanne play with most if not all of this trash.
Especially the Low Life Peelers!
Birds of a feather…
All that can be said to Dennis Tyndall is that he had better hope to GOD that Jamie Lucas does not decide to enter the Lexington Sheriff’s race!
Groups and communities are requesting him to run. Jamie has what it will take to bring the integrity and community pride back to Lexington County.
You mean THIS Jamie Lucas??? http://law.justia.com/cases/south-carolina/supreme-court/2009/26693.html
Not much in the way of integrity THERE….
The very one indeed. Jamie Lucas maintained his innocence and law enforcement knew he was and could not make him plead to something he did not do and law enforcement knew they could not find any jury to convict him. Jamie has always been honest and that is why jakie and law enforcement under jakie’s control went after him because he refused to be corrupt. Everyone who knows Jamie, knows his integrity standard is set at a very level. It is people like you who drink the poison that is giving to you. Jamie’s supporters, friends and citizens know he tried to report public corruption about lexington politicians and law enforcement officials when he was a cop at west Columbia police department in the late 90’s, but was ignored time and time again. I along with many communities think the world of him and the courage he has and continues to display even after all he has been through. One question for you and people like you, did you provide any information that has brought the lexington corrupt to their knees? I will answer that for you, no you and many like you did nothing other than sit back now and pick at small issues and hope people will look at them through a magnify glass to make it appear to be bigger than it truly is. Jamie stood up to the corrupt and because of his hard work, is the result of the lexington powerful being brought to justice and changing the whole face of lexington county.
Oh please! Save it for the uninformed. Jamie Lucas is no Saint. Let’s not forget the circumstances on how he became a magistrate. He was bought and paid for by Jake and Danny. And how did he pay it back? He bought Danny a Rolex. You can deny all you want, but it won’t change the truth. It’s only when he “fell out” did he take the moral high road. Lucky he wasn’t indicted along with his buddy’s.
It is very obvious that you are the uninformed. But continue to walk around blindly as you are. I along with so many are proud to have Jamie Lucas in our lives and will continue to stand up for him because we truly know him and personally informed. Maybe one day king tut you can do something positive and courageous as Jamie has from the start of his career and continues to do so.
Okay, Pam. I get it. Your husband is Perfect!
Your very statement shows how uninformed you really are king tut. Jamie and Pam are no longer together. Again we continue to stand behind Jamie because he can bring integrity back to lexington county Sheriff’s department and the lexington county communities. He will not stand for corruption at any level and would lead the Sheriff’s department in a direction where communities of all diversities can trust law enforcement in their duties to serve all with integrity.
I completely agree with you lex resident. Jamie Lucas and Stace Day were targeted by the lexington corrupt James Metts, Danny Frazier, Jakie Knotts, Dennis Tyndall, lexington county courts and Jean Toal.
But I would not hesitate to vote for either Stace Day or Jamie Lucas for sheriff. We thank you both for your courage that so many too scared to do because it was easier to look the other way or lacking the integrity to bring it forward.
No WAY! Lexington County needs NEW blood. Stace and Jamie are both tainted and we do not need anyone who ran with, played with, or associated with ANY of these folk with this “Lexington Ring” taint on them!
Stace and Jamie both played a dirty and dangerous game and they have themselves to blame. They made the choice of accepting and turning a blind eye to the activities, cause they, like James and Tyndall thought they were going to benefit, in some way!
The whole bunch is filthy with the slime of sin and corruption.
Stace & Jamie are tainted by association but did nothing wrong and chose to do what was right and honest thing and said no to their demands. Everyone is entitle to their opinion as I am mind, I to me and others Stace & Jamie are straight and honest men that were subjected to corrupt politics just because they would not go along with them. Or just maybe the lexington corrupt thought that they could compromise them and found out they were uncompromisable and went after them. Either way, they didn’t give in, they fought when others would not and lexington county is already becoming a better place due to these brave men.
(Laughing). Keep telling yourself that……SMH
I just spat my sweet ice tea all over my computer. …….Are you freggin serious? Jamie Lucas who was appointed to Magistrate by Knotts at the request of Frazier? Same Lucas who partied with Danny and Jason? I’m sorry, but that was an asinine statement.
As a close friend of Jamie’s, I can tell you that he has no interest in running for sheriff. He enjoys doing what he is doing now. Each time I see and talk to him, he is always humble and enjoys joking around. He is looking forward to marrying his fiancé and looking toward a bright future and retirement. I am not sure about what extent he had in exposing lexington county’s corruption, but if it is a fraction of what is rumored, then he has giving lexington county a gift and knowing Jamie, I can hear him say to lexington county, don’t mess it up and continue to the fight to end corruption.
We love you Jamie.
Not to mention Danny Frazier’s recordings said to one guy that was posing as a person interested in getting involved in illegal video poker that Dennis Tyndall along with lexington county, south Congaree and other agencies were not enforcing poker laws and to prove it, he would have Dennis Tyndall come to his shop located one block away from west Columbia police department so Dennis can tell him that.
The “Ring” lives! I see where the West Columbia City Council and Mayor have passed a resolution for Dennis Tyndall to run for Sheriff.
Tyndall (West Columbia Chief of Police) and Tim James (former Chief Deputy to Metts, SLED #2) are close with mayor Joe Owens who hired Frazier for his lucrative NON job with the City of West Columbia. All are associates of the “Ring” and former LT Gov. Bob Peeler. Peeler, Owens, James, Tyndall and Mayor Halfacre, and Chief Amodio (indicted Chief of South Congaree) ALL campaigned for election, reelection for Frazier’s election, reelection to Town Council and Frazier’s run for the House of Representatives, which he lost to Rick Quinn. This group campaigned door to door, worked the polls for Frazier and ran Frazier’s bumper stickers!
Tyndall and James, while liquoring up in the Vista offered to buy me and a friend a drink, asking us to vote for Frazier and professing their desire for his reelection, on election day.
Peeler and his paramour worked the polls on election day with Frazier and his wife. In return Frazier and his wife testified in the divorce on adultery for the aforementioned and Amodio wrote affidavitts for Peeler and his paramour. Yes the gang works hand in glove.
Metts and James requested and received a Grand Jury investigation, in an attempt to discredit and damage Peeler’s paramour’s husband, who caught them in their illicit affair! Peeler also had the Private Investigator who “caught them in his camers lense investigated as part of the payback for being caught. Taxpayer funded retribution and vendetta assisted by top Law Enforcement, at it’s finest! This was partially written in an article entitled, “Dirty Southern Politics” chronicling some of the abuse of power and process.
Ah yes, the “Ring” lives on and attempts to maintain it’s strangle hold over Lexington County, and seeks to keep “Law Enforcement on lock Down” . A recorded reference Frazier made regarding West Columbia (Tyndall) and Lexington County (Metts) and how they would NOT interfere with his illegal gambling activity!
The “Ring” is still alive and well, attempting to continue it’s control and activities in the County accross the river.
They may have gotten the head of the snake, but the body is still movin! Hopefully not for as long as it has been…..
BS, The head of the snake is much further up the good chain! If this is actually investigated, which it won’t be, South Carolina would nit have one single politician left and few lawyers. Our elected officials are the new organized and old organized crime syndicate! They run the majority of the drugs, gambling, prostitution and so on. Mets Will get a slap on the hand and a few others well go down, but not the power brokers. I’m waiting to see if the Taylor clan escapes.
Mike Gulledge needs to move on after 10 years.
I always get my research on public policy from 53 year-old Mexcian A/C men. They just know their shit amigo.
The reporter must have been mentored by Tom Friedman.
Heh!
I see from the picture how Willy got his start just after a kiss and tell with the principal’s daughter.
Anytime somebody would run against Metts he just hired them. Case in point, Ben Spence. A few years back ol Spence was running his mouth about running for sheriff while he was COP in Swansea. Things started going bad there (missing money), all of the sudden Metts hires him to work cold cases, and reports directly to Metts. So what is this, run against Metts and he creates a position for you?
LMAO…Kinda JCL are you not?…Hahahaha…
One title Frazier had that has never been mentioned is “Suger Daddy”, right Wendy? And poor Donna, there goes the bank!
Poor Wendy and Donna…..;-)…right! They both thought they were getting a prize and got a sur-prize!
Donna still has “Bankrupt Bob” that she has to look after!LOL
Better be careful.What ever happened to the Solicitor from Chesterfield County? Maybe it was because he was a lawyer.
Much as I chide Sic about this and that, there is no doubt that he broke this major story in a big way a good while back, and never backed down from it one bit.
The New York Times story was linked from “Drudge Report” ….. Drudge gets several million hits a day; sometimes upwards of 15 million hits in one day. And yes, Sic did break this story back when it was reported on by no one else. I remember.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if just one person would stand up telling the real deal about the Lexington Ring but that would take a real man who put morals before money but one day it will all come out as the truth usually does in the end.
It’s a shame that 10 years have gone by since the divorce and the ex still does not have a life!