Indicted Rutherford County Sheriff's Major Loses Badge

MURFREESBORO, TN — A major in the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office has been decommissioned as he awaits trial on federal immigration and wire fraud charges. The major, Terry McBurney, is an in-law of now-suspended and jailed sheriff Robert Arnold and has been on leave since he was indicted in November.

“Due to substantial concerns of your involvement within an active federal criminal investigation, all duties authorized and empowered to you as a deputy sheriff in accordance with Tennessee state law is temporarily removed,” Deputy Chief Keith Lowery said in a release. McBurney had been leading the Warrants, Records and Evidence division.

McBurney was indicted in November on charges of unlawful procurement of naturalization, making false statements under oath in matters relating to his application for U.S. citizenship and naturalization status, and seven counts of wire fraud. McBurney, who was born in Ireland, allegedly claimed to be a U.S. citizen on his application with the county and twice checked "yes" on federal forms asking if he was a citizen. McBurney was born in Ireland, requested naturalization in 2015, but was not naturalized until February 2016, after he had submitted those forms.

McBurney was implicated in a damning audit of the sheriff's office issued by the State Comptroller's office and was charged by the U.S. Attorney shortly thereafter.

McBurney was in the sixth year of his second stint in the sheriff's office. His previous tenure ended when he left following an investigation involving property taken during an eviction.

Image via Rutherford County Sheriff's Office