BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–United States Attorney Bill Nettles confirmed today that Tony Allen Riley, age 60, of Goose Creek, SC, was charged in a two-count indictment with two counts of selling a firearm to a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(d).
The maximum penalty Riley could receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment of ten years on each count.
Riley was arrested and arraigned on the charges today. At the time of his arrest, and during the dates listed in the indictment, Riley was employed by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy, after having previously retired as a Captain with the Sheriff’s Office.
Mr. Nettles stated that the case was investigated by agents of the FBI and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office for prosecution.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
In 2012, Riley was demoted at the sheriff’s office after an inmate, James Sanders, was able to walk out of the jail under his watch. This resulted in a massive manhunt for the suspect. Sanders was eventually arrested by Myrtle Beach Police.
Following the news of Monday’s indictment, Sheriff Wayne Dewitt issued a statement.
“I was surprised and disappointed to learn today of the arrest of Tony Riley by Federal officials,” said Dewitt. “Mr. Tony Riley has already been terminated from his employment with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. We are disappointed in Mr. Riley’s conduct and want to assure the public it does not reflect on the integrity of other members of the sheriff’s office.”
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