Former Lee County Sheriff E.J. Melvin
/ FILE
COLUMBIA (WACH, AP) -- Former Lee County Sheriff E.J. Melvin is appealing his 17-year-sentence and conviction for drug conspiracy and racketeering Wednesday.
Court documents show Melvin filed an appeal with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Defense attorneys had argued that Melvin should not be held responsible for others dealing drugs, didn't know the dealer had a weapon and didn't do anything to stop the federal investigation once he knew he was a target.
Melvin has been in federal prison since his November conviction on 38 charges of drug conspiracy and racketeering.
Earlier this week, a judge assigned Melvin to serve the 212 month sentence at Butner, North Carolina because of security reasons.
Authorities say Melvin ruled his county like a kingpin. They claim he repeatedly took hundreds of dollars in handshake bribes to keep drug dealers out of trouble and also took kickbacks for catering barbecue dinners for county functions and contracts.
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