Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins Arrested: “Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins and three Virginia businessmen face federal bribery charges for allegedly exchanging police credentials for bribes, the US Attorney’s Office announced the indictment.”
Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins arrested
A Virginia sheriff is facing serious federal charges after allegedly engaging in fraudulent activity related to the issuance of sheriff’s deputy badges. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Howard Jenkins and three other Virginia men were involved in a conspiracy to exchange bribes for law enforcement credentials.
According to the indictment, Jenkins accepted cash bribes and campaign contributions totaling at least $72,500 in exchange for appointing individuals as sheriff’s deputies and providing them with badges and identification cards.
The indictment also accuses Jenkins of falsely authorizing those who paid bribes to carry concealed firearms in all 50 states without obtaining the proper permits. In addition, Jenkins allegedly assisted one of the individuals in obtaining approval for a petition to restore firearms rights by providing false information in exchange for bribes.
U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh emphasized that the charges against Jenkins not only violated federal law, but also undermined the faith and trust that the citizens of Culpeper County placed in him. Elected officials are expected to uphold the rule of law and not abuse their power for personal financial gain.
Jenkins faces charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, fraud and bribery of federal programs, while three other people involved face various conspiracy-related charges. The defenders of the accused have not yet commented on this. Jenkins, who has been Culpeper County Sheriff since 2011, was re-elected twice in 2015 and 2019.
What happened to the arrest of Scott Jenkins?
Scott Jenkins, the 51-year-old sheriff of Culpeper, Virginia, finds himself embroiled in a web of financial wrongdoing, facing indictment for allegedly accepting bribes to exploit his elected position. The charges suggest that Jenkins received funds, allegedly in excess of $72,500, from eight individuals, including prominent businessmen and undercover FBI agents, under the guise of campaign contributions.
According to court documents, since April 2019, Jenkins allegedly accepted bribes from three businessmen — Rick Tariq Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner and James Metcalf — as well as at least five others. In return, he allegedly appointed those donors as assistant sheriff’s deputies and equipped them with official badges and identification cards from the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office. The indictment was dropped on June 29, 2023.
Charges against Jenkins include one count of conspiracy, eight counts of bribery in federal programs and four counts of wire and mail fraud, based on evidence presented in court documents.
In exchange for bribes, Jenkins granted the donors official positions, giving them the authority to carry firearms and wear a badge similar to that of paid sheriff’s deputies. The arrests of Jenkins’ co-conspirators occurred on the same date as the indictment.
In addition to accepting bribes, Jenkins faces charges of exerting undue influence to secure the approval of Rick Tariq Rahim’s application to regain his gun rights. The charges suggest he tried to pressure a District Court judge and employees at the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to ease Rahim’s request.
Namely, in January 2023, the FBI seized a significant part of the funds from Jenkins’ accounts. Court documents reveal conversations and money exchanges that could be damning evidence against Jenkins and his alleged accomplices. Furthermore, Jenkins is accused of omitting the alleged kickback amounts from his campaign finance reports filed with the Virginia Department of Elections.
Sheriff of Culpeper arrested
On July 7, 2023, Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins faced a significant upheaval as he was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Virginia State Police on federal charges of bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy. The 16-count indictment alleges that Jenkins accepted bribes totaling at least $72,000 from two businessmen, known in the indictment as Individual A and Individual B. In exchange for the bribes, he allegedly used his position as sheriff in order to influence the awarding of contracts in favor of their companies with the county government.
The indictment describes how Jenkins attempted to conceal the nature and source of the bribe by receiving it at various locations and through intermediaries. He is also alleged to have used his official authority to grant favorable treatment to businessmen during the county bidding process.
Among the charges Jenkins currently faces are conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, honest services fraud, bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. If convicted on all counts, he could be subject to substantial fines and potentially serve a lengthy prison sentence.
News of Jenkins’ arrest reverberated throughout Culpeper County and beyond, leaving many stunned and disheartened by the revelations. As the case unfolds, it’s important to remember that Jenkins is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The investigation continues, and the community anxiously awaits the resolution of this high-profile and controversial case.
Who was arrested on federal bribery charges along with the businessmen?
A Virginia sheriff has found himself at the center of a public corruption scandal, as he faces federal charges for allegedly trading deputy sheriffs for cash bribes and substantial campaign donations.
Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins faces a 16-count indictment along with three businessmen, all accused of bribery. The charges include conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery in connection with federally funded programs.
Jenkins, who took office as sheriff in 2011, allegedly accepted bribes totaling at least $72,500 from the accused businessmen and several others, including two undercover FBI agents, during his 2019 re-election campaign.
According to the indictment, Jenkins used his position to benefit himself financially and secure funds for his re-election campaign. In exchange for bribes, he granted his co-conspirators the status of assistant sheriff’s deputies, allowing them to wield authority and carry badges and firearms. The move was approved by Jenkins himself and took effect in January 2020.
Furthermore, the indictment charges Jenkins with pressuring and advising fellow public officials to approve a petition filed by one of his co-conspirators, Rick Tariq Rahim, seeking the restoration of his gun rights. The indictment does not state the reasons for which Rahim lost the right to bear arms.
Jenkins, Rahim and two other businessmen, Fredric Gumbinner and James Metcalf, were arrested early that day and were scheduled to make initial appearances in US District Court in Charlottesville.
U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh issued a statement condemning Jenkins’ actions, saying, “Scott Jenkins not only violated federal law, but he also violated the faith and trust placed in him by the citizens of Culpeper County by accepting cash bribes in exchange for for auxiliary congressional badges and other perks.” Kavanaugh also stressed that elected officials are expected to uphold the rule of law and not abuse their power for personal gain.
Jenkins previously made headlines in Virginia for announcing his intentions to replace the district’s residents if the state legislature passed what he saw as “unnecessary gun restrictions” after electing a Democratic majority. He announced this plan on Facebook in December 2019
Disclaimer: The above information is for general information purposes only. All information on the website is provided in good faith, but we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, as to the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on the website.
Categories: General
Source: HIS Education