EXCLUSIVE: Charlotte’s Sheriff McFadden Under Fire For Growing Corruption Scandal
North Carolina Republican Rep. Mark Harris is calling on Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden to resign or take a leave of absence over allegations he threatened a state lawmaker.
In a letter, Harris said the “serious and escalating” accusations against McFadden have eroded public trust and warrant his departure amid an ongoing investigation. (RELATED: Sanctuary Sheriff Under Investigation for Alleged Extortion, Corruption)
The allegations stem from a phone call McFadden allegedly made to Democratic North Carolina state Rep. Carla Cunningham before the vote on House Bill 318, which requires sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). McFadden warned that county residents would “come after her” for supporting the bill and “had a hunch” that he would withhold protection if she did not oppose it, Cunningham said.
“Letter from Sheriff Garry McFadden” by Ashley
The letter references a court petition filed Monday by five former employees seeking McFadden’s dismissal. The petition accuses him of misusing county resources, including ordering deputies to drive visiting National Sheriffs Association officials to bars and strip clubs in county vehicles while on duty. It also alleges that McFadden used county credit cards for flight and hotel upgrades.
Among the petitioners is former Sergeant Marcia Crenshaw Hill, who was stabbed by an inmate in 2020 and was later fired. She alleged that McFadden created unsafe conditions at the detention center. Former chief deputy Kevin Canty, who resigned in November 2024, claimed McFadden pressured him to recommend unjustified firings of employees. Former Captain Juan Delgado and former Major Bryan Adams raised additional concerns about policy violations and favoritism in the workplace.
INBOX: @ncga House Rep. Carla Cunningham (D-Mecklenburg) is one of several parties who have signed a petition to remove Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden from office “for attempted extortion and bribery, willful misconduct and maladministration in the line of duty, and willful… pic.twitter.com/jPnviUed2q
– AP Dillon (@APDillon_) January 5, 2026
McFadden called the allegations “lies” and a “smear campaign designed right before the election” during a news conference Tuesday at the Valerie C. Woodard Community Resource Center. He said he welcomes a review by the State Bureau of Investigation.
District Attorney Spencer Merriweather on Monday requested an SBI investigation to determine whether McFadden committed any crimes. The SBI confirmed its professional standards unit would investigate, according to the Charlotte Observer. (RELATED: Sheriff Says Real Victims of Charlie Kirk and Iryna Zarutska Murders Are Actually Judges)
🚨#BREAKING: It has been revealed that Democratic Charlotte NC Sheriff Garry McFadden, who refused to cooperate with ICE/Border Patrol on deportations of illegal immigrants…
…used his OWN police officers to transport politicians to strip clubs and topless bars pic.twitter.com/qGyUFN3KLQ
–Matt Van Swol (@mattvanswol) January 7, 2026
The petition also accuses McFadden of retaliating against employees and having IT staff work on his campaign website during work hours.
McFadden was elected in 2018 on a promise to limit cooperation with ICE on deportations. His office has maintained that position despite a recent state law, House Bill 318, requiring sheriffs to cooperate with the agency.
Federal Customs and Border Protection agents conducted raids in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County last week and arrested more than 350 people as part of “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” according to CNN.
ICE highlighted McFadden’s uncooperative stance in 2020 by putting up billboards across Charlotte featuring individuals who the agency said had criminal records, were in the United States illegally and were released from prison instead of being transferred to ICE custody. The billboards claimed to “educate the public about the dangers of non-cooperation policies.”
Mecklenburg County is also where Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was killed on the Charlotte railroad tracks in September 2025. (RELATED: North Carolina’s ‘Iryna Law’ Takes Effect, Cracks Down on Repeat Offenders)
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.
