Voss stared at the papers, and I watched his jaw tighten as he recognized names.
“Those are unverified accusations,” he said, trying to pull himself together. “Every sheriff in Georgia gets complaints. People don’t like getting arrested.”
“You’re right,” Agent Greer said calmly. “Complaints are where an investigation starts, not where it ends. That’s why we’re here. Your department’s records will now be examined independently.”
“Every allegation deserves to be tested against the evidence,” I said, and everyone turned to look at me. “Nobody should be treated as guilty because of a letter. That includes you, Sheriff. But nobody in this building is going to destroy records or intimidate witnesses while that review happens. Not today, and not any other day.”
AUSA Delgado opened her portfolio and retrieved a single sheet of paper with a raised seal.
“Sheriff Voss, this is a federal search warrant signed this morning by a United States Magistrate Judge in Macon,” she said. “Not Judge Whitlock’s court. She’s recused from all of this. The warrant authorizes the seizure of all records, computers, phones, and financial documents in this building relating to arrests, bail, evidence handling, and property seizures for the past eight years.”
