BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A former Winston County sheriff's deputy previously jailed on state charges now faces federal charges for extorting a woman to cook methamphetamine.
Grady Keith Concord, 42, of Lynn, has agreed to plead guilty to one count each of extortion under color of official right, manufacturing methamphetamine, and manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine on premises where children are present or reside.
U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein Jr. announced the charges Monday, after an information and plea agreement were filed in U.S. District Court.
His arraignment is set for Nov. 18 at the federal courthouse in Huntsville.
Richard S. Jaffe and Michael Whisonant Jr. are representing Concord.
"Keith deeply regrets becoming addicted to methamphetamine, and further breaking the law to obtain the substance, rather than seeking medical treatment" Jaffe said. "Keith in no way blames anyone or anything but himself for violating his oath as a law enforcement officer, and embarrassing his department and his family. His agreement to plead guilty and accept full responsibility is a positive first step toward recovery."
In June, Concord was arrested on a second-degree manufacturing methamphetamine charge in Winston County. He was fired from the sheriff's department and has remained in jail with bond set at $500,000.
He was indicted on the state charge in August. Online court records do not indicate when his next court appearance will occur.
The information and plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court give this description of Concord's actions:
In July 2013, Concord, who used methamphetamine, approached a woman who lived in Nauvoo and pressured her to make the drug for him. He arranged to supply pseudoephedrine, an ingredient used to make meth, in exchange for the finished product.
Until June 2014, Concord delivered pseudoephedrine to the woman's home and picked up meth. He took decongestant pills containing pseudoephedrine from the sheriff's office evidence room, and he and his wife also bought pills, the plea agreement states.
Concord disputes the woman's claim that he threatened her with an arrest warrant unless she cooperated, but he concedes that because he was a sheriff's deputy, she might have felt that she "had no choice but to accept his offer," his plea agreement states.
Concord knew the woman had two sons who lived at the home, and that one of them was a minor.
As part of the plea agreement, Concord must surrender all law enforcement certifications and not seek future employment in law enforcement or custodial oversight.
He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the extortion count and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the count of manufacturing methamphetamine.
A sentence imposed for the manufacture of methamphetamine where minors reside or are present must be served consecutively with any other sentence imposed. The maximum penalty for that count is 20 years in prison and a $2 million fine.
The FBI, agents of the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force assigned to the FBI's Safe Streets Task Force, and the Winston/Marion County District Attorney's Office, in cooperation with the Winston County Sheriff's Office and the Lynn Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamarra Matthews Johnson is prosecuting the case.
Updated at 4:42 p.m. with comments from Concord's attorneys