Politics
NEW: Blue City Sheriff Faces Litany Of ‘Mafia-Style’ Corruption Allegations
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, a Democrat, is facing a litany of misconduct allegations outlined in a court petition filed in Mecklenburg Superior Court. The petition seeks his removal from office under North Carolina law, which allows for the removal of certain elected officials for willful misconduct or maladministration in office, corruption, or extortion.
McFadden has served as sheriff of Mecklenburg County — which encompasses the city of Charlotte — since 2018.
The removal petition was filed by five Mecklenburg County electors, including North Carolina State Rep. Carla Cunningham, a Democrat. Four former employees of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office also signed on, including former Chief Deputy Kevin Canty.
The petition lays out a series of “mafia-style” corruption allegations, including attempted extortion, misuse of public resources, targeted retaliation and more.
Rep. Cunningham alleges that during a July 2025 phone call, McFadden pressured her to oppose or withdraw support for House Bill 318, which compelled local sheriffs to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. According to the petition, McFadden stated that people in her district would “come after” her if she supported the bill, adding, “I don’t want to see you get hurt. You live in my county.”
The petition further compares McFadden’s conduct to that of a mafia boss, saying, “nice little store you’ve got there, it would be a shame if anything happened to it,” suggesting an implied threat to withhold protection or safety assurances.
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Gary McFadden
It further accuses McFadden of directing deputies to use official vehicles to transport officials from the National Sheriffs’ Association to bars and strip clubs during a conference in Charlotte. Additional accusations involve using sheriff’s office information technology staff to work on his campaign website and inappropriate use of office credit cards for travel upgrades.
In addition, McFadden is accused of weaponizing the department’s internal affairs unit by initiating investigations against employees based on personal animosity, while simultaneously protecting favored staff. Other claims include retaliation against whistleblowers and crime victims, under-enforcing jail safety policies, favoritism in promotions and staffing, and directing unpaid reserve deputy work at events he attended, such as Johnson C. Smith University parades.
The petition requests that a Superior Court judge determine whether McFadden should be removed from office based on the allegations outlined. Under state law, such a petition requires approval from the district attorney or county attorney to proceed, and it can lead to a hearing if substantiated.
All five petitioners are associated with the Democratic Party, though the Republican-controlled legislature has opened its own investigation. The chamber’s Oversight Committee has summoned McFadden to testify on January 22, 2026, about public safety matters, including his department’s operations.
In addition, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather requested that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) review the allegations, particularly potential criminal aspects such as extortion, bribery, campaign finance issues, and misuse of resources. The SBI confirmed that its Professional Standards Unit is conducting the investigation.
In a statement of his own, McFadden denied the allegations and described the petition as a politically-motivated “smear campaign.”
“The petition is nothing but a smear campaign designed just before the election. It is filled with lies, and we welcome the investigation, and we respect the investigation that will be occurring,” he said.
