South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that the State Grand Jury has returned a seven-count indictment involving allegations of public corruption against two former South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) employees, James Murray Cooper and Curtis Sims Jr.
James Murray Cooper, who served as Technical Advisor and Compliance Manager in the Minority Small Business Affairs Office at SCDOT, faces charges including use of official position for financial gain and acceptance of rebates or extra compensation. The indictment alleges that Cooper unlawfully received thousands of dollars from a private contractor who had been awarded millions in SCDOT contracts funded by public money.
Curtis Sims Jr., formerly the Training Safety and Security Program Manager in SCDOT’s Office of Public Transport division, is accused on five counts. These include using his official position for financial gain, accepting rebates or extra compensation on three occasions, and receiving anything of value to influence his actions as a public official. The indictment states that Sims received thousands of dollars from another private contractor who also secured over a million dollars in state-funded contracts.
“Today’s indictments send a message that all South Carolina businesses will compete for state contracts on equal grounds,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson. “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 is being conducted by the South Carolina State Grand Jury in partnership with the 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 expressed gratitude to Secretary of Transportation Justin P. Powell and his agency for their cooperation during the investigation.
Attorney General Wilson emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The South Carolina Attorney General serves as the primary legal advocate for the state, handling prosecutions and regulatory enforcement across areas such as securities law and consumer protection (official website). The office supports victims through advocacy efforts while collaborating with law enforcement agencies statewide (official website). Alan Wilson has led these operations as head of the office (official website).
