New indictments unsealed against suspended Chester County sheriff, deputies.
New federal indictments against suspended Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood accuse him and two deputies of stealing thousands of dollars from a federal DUI program, court records show.
The new charges of federal program theft and wire fraud against Underwood are in addition to other indictments he faces in federal court. Underwood already is charged with falsifying records, violating a suspects’ civil rights, lying to the FBI, using money from his office for family trips, and other crimes.
He also has been indicted by a South Carolina grand jury on similar charges..
The new indictments unsealed late Wednesday claim Underwood and former Lt. Johnny Neal skimmed more than $5,200 from a federal program meant for DUI checkpoints.
Underwood and Neal set up a scheme to “use their official positions with the Chester County Sheriff’s office to enrich themselves through fraud,” the indictment states.
Underwood, Neal, and former chief deputy Robert Sprouse, all were involved in stealing the federal program money, the indictment states.
Underwood, a Democrat, currently is seeking re-election in November as Chester County sheriff. He was suspended from office in May 2019.
S.C. Gov Henry McMaster appointed Max Dorsey sheriff in May 2019 after suspending Underwood. Dorsey, a Republican, also is a candidate for sheriff.
Underwood, called “Big A” in court documents, through his lawyer has previously maintained he is not guilty of the charges and stated he wants a trial to clear his name.
Underwood, Neal and Sprouse were first charged in May 2019 with civil rights violations, filing false police reports in an attempt to cover up a false arrest, and evidence tampering. The charges are linked to an incident where a Chester County man was arrested in 2018 after he videotaped an incident near his home in Fort Lawn.
The S.C. Attorney General dropped the charges against the man who federal prosecutors said was victimized by Underwood and the deputies.
Later, a federal grand jury issued more indictments against the sheriff and deputies, alleging conspiracy. Underwood also is charged with misuse of Chester County money for personal travel to Nevada and New Orleans, forcing deputies to work on his property, and directing security detail payments for off-duty deputies to avoid paying employment taxes.
Underwood, Neal and Sprouse have pleaded not guilty to all charges in federal and state courts.
All three defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court in Columbia on Sept. 29 to be arraigned on the new indictments, according to federal court documents.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 2:01 PM with the headline "New indictments unsealed against suspended Chester County sheriff, deputies.."
