The former Culpeper County sheriff was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for accepting more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for law-enforcement badges and credentials.
Scott Howard Jenkins, of Culpeper, was convicted by a jury in December of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jenkins accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from co-defendants Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner and James Metcalf, as well as at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents.
Rahim, Gumbinner and Metcalf have all pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.
In return for the bribes, Jenkins appointed each of the bribe payors as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials.
The payors were not trained or vetted and did not render any legitimate services to the sheriff’s office or the citizens of Culpeper County.
In addition, Jenkins pressured other local officials to approve a petition filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court by Rahim, a convicted felon, to restore his right to possess a firearm and which falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County.
“Scott Jenkins violated his oath of office and the faith the citizens of Culpeper County placed in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee. “We hold our elected law enforcement officials to a higher standard of conduct and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable.”
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Crystal Graham
