Democrat Charlotte Sheriff Now Under Investigation for “Mafia-style” Intimidation and Corruption
District Attorney Spencer Merriweather has formally requested the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to probe allegations of attempted extortion and corruption against Democrat Sheriff Garry McFadden.
The investigation follows a removal petition filed Monday in Superior Court by Democratic State Rep. Carla Cunningham and four former Sheriff’s Office employees. The filing accuses the two-term Sheriff of “mafia-style” intimidation, bribery, and willful misconduct.
The petition outlines explosive allegations regarding Sheriff McFadden’s conduct over House Bill 10, a controversial state law mandating cooperation between local sheriffs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Rep. Cunningham, a fellow Democrat who provided a critical vote to override the Governor’s veto of the bill, alleges McFadden threatened her safety to influence her vote.
According to the petition, McFadden told Cunningham that if she continued to support the bill, the “people of Mecklenburg County would ‘come after’ her.”
The filing claims McFadden added, “I don’t want to see you get hurt. You live in my county.”
Cunningham described the interaction as “akin to a mafia boss demanding money by saying ‘nice little store you’ve got there; it would be a shame if anything happened to it.'”
She stated the intimidation made her fear for her physical safety and question whether she would receive law enforcement protection.
On Monday, District Attorney Merriweather confirmed he has asked the SBI’s Professional Standards Unit to investigate the claims before his office decides whether to proceed with the removal petition. The DA’s letter to the SBI specifically requests an investigation into:
- Extortion and bribery.
- Economic threats made to influence legislation.
- Hatch Act violations (regarding improper political activity).
- State campaign finance violations.
“No sheriff should ever suggest that a legislator’s safety depends on how she votes,” Cunningham said in a statement. “I was afraid and the intimidation affected me.”
Beyond the legislative threats, the petition, joined by former Chief Deputy Kevin Canty and other ex-staffers, paints a picture of a chaotic and hostile administration. Additional accusations include:
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Misuse of Public Funds: Allegations that McFadden used office credit cards for travel upgrades and directed deputies to ferry guests to bars and strip clubs using official vehicles.
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Retaliation & Favoritism: Former employees claim McFadden fostered a “Team Sheriff” culture, launching internal affairs investigations against “perceived enemies” while protecting loyalists. One allegation suggests a detention officer was promoted because she acted as a “de facto informant” for the Sheriff.
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Jail Safety: The petition cites dangerous understaffing at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center, alleging staff levels dropped from 1,300 to roughly 770 under McFadden’s tenure. Former Sgt. Marcia Crenshaw Hill alleges relaxed policies for inmates contributed to an environment where she was stabbed in the neck by an inmate in 2020.
Sheriff McFadden has not publicly addressed the specific allegations. In a brief response to media inquiries, a Sheriff’s Office spokesperson stated, “The Sheriff is aware of the removal petition; however, we are not releasing a statement at this time.”
This development comes as McFadden faces a challenging Democratic primary in March and is scheduled to testify later this month before a state legislative oversight committee regarding jail management and safety failures.
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