Lexington County Sheriff James Metts said he will return campaign contributions from people and businesses connected to the sweepstakes industry.

The decision to refund about $4,500 campaign contributions came after The State newspaper showed him a court order demanding machines at Phone Time Promotion machine owned by East Coast Vending Distributors was an illegal gambling device and should be destroyed, The State reported.

On Thursday, Metts suspended Danny Frazier, a Lexington Town Council member and part-time sheriff’s department employee, pending the results of a State Law Enforcement Division investigation into reports that Frazier is involved in illegal video gambling.

Lexington Town Council has planned a special meeting for Friday with Frazier to discuss his alleged dealings with online gambling during a closed-door meeting.

Frazier apologized in a statement Tuesday, saying he made and error in judgement. He didn't mention video poker or gambling, and said that nothing he has done was illegal.