Sheriff of Sanctuary Being Investigated for Possible Extortion and Corruption

Investigation into North Carolina Sheriff Accusations

A long-serving sheriff known for his sanctuary policies is facing serious allegations, including threats against lawmakers regarding pro-immigration legislation and coercing staff to visit a strip club.

Garry McFadden, the Democratic Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, is currently under scrutiny for potential corruption and other misconduct, as confirmed by state authorities. This situation poses a significant risk to his political career, particularly since he has been vocal against cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since he took office in late 2018.

Calls for McFadden’s removal are growing louder, fueled by accusations of “willful misconduct or mismanagement in public office,” “corruption,” “extortion,” and other offenses, according to a letter from Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Meriwether to the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

The SBI has stated, “We received a request from the Mecklenburg County District Attorney to investigate the charges detailed in a petition for Sheriff McFadden’s removal. This matter has been assigned to the Professional Standards Division for investigation.”

One of the most concerning allegations comes from state Rep. Carla Cunningham, a moderate Democrat representing the Charlotte area. She claims McFadden called her and threatened her regarding a vote that would override the governor’s veto on House Bill 318. This bill would mandate that sheriffs detain undocumented immigrants sought by ICE for up to 48 hours.

According to an affidavit, a deputy warned Cunningham that constituents were “coming after” her after she supported the bill’s annulment and ominously added, “I don’t want to see you get hurt, you live in my county.” Many Democrats interpreted these comments as threats of physical harm or promises to withhold her protection.

Cunningham eventually sided with Republicans to vote for the bill, which led to a successful override of the governor’s veto by the Republican-controlled legislature.

The complaint also alleges that McFadden retaliated against staff members, employed state agents for illegal tasks on his campaign website, and instructed employees to strip officials in clubs and bars.

A spokesperson for the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office stated that McFadden is aware of the petition for his removal but is not making any statements at this moment.

Since his inauguration in December 2018, McFadden has had a strained relationship with federal immigration authorities. He has consistently refused to comply with ICE detainers, releasing criminal undocumented immigrants back into the community. In August 2019, ICE publicly released a list of criminal undocumented immigrants that were released from local custody.

McFadden has also gained national attention for his comments on high-profile crime cases in the area, notably the killings of Charlie Kirk and Irina Zalutka, a Ukrainian woman murdered in a county subway. In December, he suggested that judges are somehow victimized when dealing with such serious offenses.