South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that the State Grand Jury has returned a seven-count indictment involving allegations of public corruption against James Murray Cooper and Curtis Sims Jr., both former employees of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT).
The indictments against James Murray Cooper include one count of Use of Official Position or Office for Financial Gain Ethics Violation and one count of Acceptance of Rebates or Extra Compensation. Curtis Sims Jr. faces five counts, including Use of Official Position or Office for Financial Gain Ethics Violation, three counts of Acceptance of Rebates or Extra Compensation, and one count of Receiving Anything of Value to Influence Action of Public Official Ethics Violation.
According to the indictments, Cooper allegedly received thousands of dollars from a private contractor who had been awarded millions in SCDOT contracts funded by public money while serving as Technical Advisor and Compliance Manager in the Minority Small Business Affairs Office. In a separate case, Sims is accused of accepting thousands from another private contractor who was also awarded over a million dollars in public funds during his time as Training Safety and Security Program Manager in SCDOT’s Office of Public Transport division.
“Today’s indictments send a message that all South Carolina businesses will compete for state contracts on equal grounds,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “My office, SLED, the State Grand Jury, and the leadership at SCDOT have worked together to weed out corruption from state officials entrusted with the obligation to ensure state funds are distributed to private contractors in a fair, transparent, and equal manner. As always, this office will continue to target the misuse of state funds and unlawful preferential treatment that harms honest South Carolina business owners and employees who play by the rules,” he added.
The investigation involves cooperation between the South Carolina State Grand Jury, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), USDOT OIG, and the Attorney General’s State Grand Jury Section. Prosecution will be led by Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General S. Creighton Waters and Assistant Attorney General Walt Whitmire. The Attorney General acknowledged assistance from Secretary of Transportation Justin P. Powell and his agency.
Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The South Carolina Attorney General serves as the state’s main legal advocate and enforcer across multiple areas such as criminal prosecution, consumer protection, securities regulation, advocacy for crime victims, and collaboration with law enforcement agencies throughout South Carolina. More information about these roles can be found on the official website. Alan Wilson currently leads this office statewide.
