Three plead guilty in SCDOT corruption charges

Two former S.C. Department of Transportation employees and a former contractor have pleaded guilty to multiple charges following a public corruption investigation, S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson said Monday.

The three were stealing traffic signal equipment from SCDOT and selling it for personal financial gain, according to the agency. The charges stem from an ongoing, multi-year investigation with the help of the State Law Enforcement Division.

According to Wilson:

▪ Joe Edward Butler, a former SCDOT inspector, pleaded guilty to four counts of receiving anything of value to influence action of public employee and to acceptance of rebates or extra compensation.

▪ Allen Kent Ray, a former SCDOT contractor, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to criminal conspiracy and to offering money for advice or assistance of a public official.

▪ Curtis C. Singleton, former head of SCDOT’s signal shop in District 1, pleaded guilty to use of an official position or office for financial gain; receiving anything of value to influence action of a public employee; official misconduct in office; acceptance of rebates or extra compensation; four counts of receiving anything of value to influence action of a public employee; official misconduct in office; and acceptance of rebates or extra compensation.

The charges are violations of the S.C. Ethics Act. The men appeared before Judge Alison Lee in Richland County.

Sentencing has been deferred for cooperation “until resolution of existing or possible future codefendants,” Wilson’s office said in a press release.

This story was originally published March 20, 2017 at 2:09 PM with the headline "Three plead guilty in SCDOT corruption charges."