By Meg Kinnard
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A jury has convicted a former South Carolina sheriff of dozens of federal charges in a wide-ranging drug and racketeering case.
During his two-week trial, prosecutors played taped conversations they said showed E.J. Melvin conspired to extort money from drug dealers in exchange for protection from investigation.
The jury of four men and eight women deliberated 15 hours before finding him guilty Tuesday of more than 30 charges.
Melvin resigned from Lee County in May after he and 11 others were charged in the drug case.
U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie ordered Melvin’s bond revoked and U.S. Marshals took him into custody. He will be held until sentencing, scheduled for January.
Melvin faces up to life in prison.