Former S. Carolina DOT workers charged with corruption in kickback scheme

Updated Aug 6, 2016

South Carolina welcomeThree former South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) workers have been charged in corruption schemes involving bribery, conspiracy and in one case stolen property, according to a report by The State.

“SCDOT has zero tolerance for wrongdoing of any kind and wishes to express its appreciation for the hard work of both the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the SC Attorney General’s Office,” said SCDOT Sec. Christy Hall in a statement following the announcement of the charges.

Charles Shirley is being charged with three counts of receiving anything of value to influence a public employee, accepting extra compensation and criminal conspiracy, according to the report. He allegedly received roughly $360,000 as part of a “secret interest” in a company that installed, maintained and repaired traffic signals, over which he supervised as the SCDOT representative.

The combination of felony and misdemeanor charges against Shirley could add up to 46 years in prison sentences. The State says his bond was set at $150,000 and he will be under house arrest, except for work and church. He left the SCDOT in January and works for a private company.

Curtis Singleton was indicted for allegedly creating a “pay-to-play” scheme when he requested and got kickbacks and bribes from contractors he supervised and assigned who installed and maintained traffic lights. He is charged with four counts of receiving anything of value to influence a public employee, one count of official misconduct and one count of acceptance of extra compensation. His charges could add up to 55 years in prison.

Joe Butler was charged with kickbacks and stealing state equipment, as he is accused of receiving more than $28,000 for the illegal sale of equipment in 2013 and 2014, according to The State. His charges include acceptance of extra compensation, three counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent and four counts of receiving anything of value to influence a public employee. He could face up to 75 years in prison if convicted.