American Monster: Abuse of Power is a true-crime docuseries on Investigation Discovery. Episode 6, titled I Am the Law, explores the chilling case of Sidney Dorsey, DeKalb County’s first Black sheriff. The episode details his fall from respected lawman to convicted murderer. It is based on real events, drawing from court records and interviews.
Dorsey, fearing exposure of his corruption, orchestrated the assassination of his successor, Derwin Brown. Brown was gunned down in 2000, days before taking office. The case revealed a web of bribes and betrayal within Dorsey’s sheriff’s department.
Episode 6 unpacks how power corrupted Dorsey. The episode aired on June 22, 2025, at 10 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery. It is available for streaming on Discovery+ and the ID GO app. Encores aired throughout the week.
American Monster: Abuse of Power Exposes Sidney Dorsey’s Murder Plot Against Derwin Brown
Episode 6 of American Monster: Abuse of Power centers on Sidney Dorsey, DeKalb County, Georgia’s sheriff from 1996 to 2000. Dorsey, a 30-year Atlanta homicide detective, became the county’s first Black sheriff. In 2000, he lost a runoff election to Captain Derwin Brown, who campaigned on exposing corruption in Dorsey’s office.
Fearing a probe, Dorsey hired deputy Patrick Cuffy to arrange Brown’s murder. On December 15, 2000, Brown was ambushed in his Decatur driveway, shot 12 times with an AK-47 by Melvin Walker, a mechanic recruited for the hit. Brown’s wife, Phyllis, found him dying and called 911. Cuffy, Walker, and accomplice David Ramsey were arrested after Cuffy confessed. Dorsey was convicted of murder and racketeering in 2002, receiving a life sentence without parole.
The case exposed Dorsey’s corrupt practices, including bribes and jobs-for-cash schemes. Brown, a 46-year-old father of five, was killed three days before his swearing-in. As of June 2025, Dorsey, now 85, remains at Georgia Diagnostic & Classification State Prison.
Derwin Brown’s Assassination Shocks DeKalb County in 2000
On December 15, 2000, Derwin Brown returned home from a retirement party. As he exited his car at 11:45 p.m., Melvin Walker, hiding in bushes, fired 12 rounds from an AK-47. Brown, hit in the chest, pelvis, and legs, collapsed in his driveway at 5473 Greenridge Road, Decatur. Phyllis Brown heard gunfire, found her husband, and called 911, as detailed in a Fox News report.
Brown died at DeKalb Medical Center. Investigators initially had no leads until Patrick Cuffy, a deputy under Dorsey, confessed in 2001. Cuffy admitted Dorsey paid $10,000 for the hit, fearing Brown’s corruption probe. Cuffy recruited Walker and Ramsey, who scoped Brown’s home days earlier. Dorsey provided unmarked cars and radios to aid the plot.
The trial revealed Dorsey’s sheriff’s office ran like a criminal enterprise, with deputies accepting bribes and selling jobs. Cuffy, Walker, and Ramsey received life sentences after testifying against Dorsey. Brown’s family won a $270 million civil suit against Dorsey, mostly uncollected.
Sidney Dorsey’s Corruption Taints Sheriff’s Office Legacy
Dorsey’s abuse of power extended beyond murder. As sheriff, he exploited a youth mentorship program, pocketing donations meant for at-risk kids. Court records show he demanded $2,000 bribes from deputies for promotions. He also sold sheriff’s office jobs, charging up to $5,000, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
These schemes funded his lavish lifestyle, including luxury cars and trips. Prosecutors described Dorsey’s office as a “culture of corruption,” with loyal deputies primed to follow orders. The 2002 trial highlighted how Dorsey used his badge to intimidate rivals. Witnesses testified he threatened whistleblowers, ensuring silence.
His conviction included racketeering charges under Georgia’s RICO Act, reflecting the breadth of his crimes. Brown’s widow confronted Dorsey in court, calling him “the lowest scumbag.” Dorsey’s appeals, ongoing as of 2025, have failed. His case remains a stark warning of unchecked authority in law enforcement.
Read more: The Tahereh Ghassemi Murder Case: A Detailed Overview
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Arvind is a Senior Writer and Editor at Hilvaro, specializing in anime, entertainment, and pop culture. With a BSc in Transportation Technology, his passion for storytelling led him to a career in journalism. He has previously contributed to Sportskeeda and GameRant, covering anime and entertainment with a keen eye for detail.
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