Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins Arrested, What Happened To Scott Jenkins Arrested?
by Alaguvelan M
Updated Jul 01, 2023
Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins Arrested
A Virginia sheriff is facing serious federal charges after allegedly engaging in fraudulent activities related to the issuance of deputy sheriff badges. The US Justice Department claims 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 auxiliary deputy sheriffs and granting them badges and identification cards.
The indictment also accuses Jenkins of misleadingly authorizing those who paid bribes to carry concealed firearms in all 50 states without obtaining proper permits. Additionally, Jenkins is alleged to have assisted one of the individuals in gaining approval for a petition to restore firearms rights by providing false information in exchange for bribes.
US Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh emphasized that the charges against Jenkins not only violated federal law but also shattered the faith and trust the citizens of Culpeper County had placed in him. Elected officials are expected to uphold the rule of law and not misuse their power for personal financial gain.
Jenkins faces charges of conspiracy, honest-services mail, wire fraud, and federal programs bribery, while the three other individuals involved face various charges related to the conspiracy. The defense attorneys for those charged have not yet provided comments on the matter. Jenkins, who has been the sheriff of Culpeper County since 2011, was reelected twice in 2015 and 2019.
What Happened To Scott Jenkins Arrested?
Scott Jenkins, the 51-year-old Culpeper Sheriff in Virginia, finds himself entangled in a web of financial offenses, facing indictment for allegedly accepting bribes to exploit his elected position. The accusations suggest that Jenkins received funds, reportedly surpassing $72,500, from eight individuals, including prominent businessmen and undercover FBI agents, under the guise of election campaign contributions.
According to court documents, since April 2019, Jenkins supposedly 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 these donors as auxiliary deputy sheriffs and furnished them with official badges and identification cards from the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office. The indictment was unsealed on June 29, 2023.
The charges against Jenkins include one count of conspiracy, eight counts of federal programs bribery, and four counts of honest-services mail and wire fraud, based on the evidence presented in the court documents.
In exchange for the bribes, Jenkins bestowed formal positions upon the donors, granting them the authority to carry firearms and bear a badge akin to that of paid deputy sheriffs. The arrests of Jenkins's co-conspirators took place on the same date as the indictment.
Besides accepting bribes, Jenkins faces accusations of exerting undue influence to secure approval for Rick Tariq Rahim's petition to regain gun rights. The allegations suggest that he tried to pressure a Circuit Court judge and employees in the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office to facilitate Rahim's request.
Notably, in January 2023, the FBI seized a significant portion of funds from Jenkins's accounts. Court documents reveal conversations and monetary exchanges that may be damning evidence against Jenkins and his alleged accomplices. Furthermore, Jenkins is accused of omitting the alleged bribe amounts from his campaign finance reports submitted to the Virginia Department of Elections.
Culpeper Sheriff Arrested
On July 7th, 2023, Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins faced a significant turn of events 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 indictment, comprising 16 charges, alleges that Jenkins accepted bribes totaling at least $72,000 from two businessmen, known as Individual A and Individual B in the indictment. In return for the bribes, he purportedly used his position as Sheriff to influence contract awards in favor of their companies with the county government.
The indictment outlines how Jenkins attempted to hide the nature and source of the bribes by accepting them in different locations and through intermediaries. It also states that he leveraged his official authority to grant favorable treatment to the businessmen during the county's bidding process.
Among the charges Jenkins is currently facing are conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to commit bribery. If found guilty on all counts, he could be subject to substantial fines and potentially serve a lengthy prison sentence.
News of Jenkins' arrest has reverberated throughout Culpeper County and beyond, leaving many stunned and disheartened by the revelations. As the case unfolds, it is essential to remember that Jenkins is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 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 Businessmen?
A Virginia sheriff finds himself at the center of a public corruption scandal, as federal charges have been brought against him for allegedly trading auxiliary deputy sheriff's appointments for cash bribes and substantial campaign donations.
Scott Jenkins, the Culpeper County Sheriff, is facing a 16-count indictment alongside three businessmen, all accused of engaging in bribery. The charges include conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery relating to programs funded by the federal government.
Jenkins, who assumed office as sheriff in 2011, is alleged to have accepted bribes totaling at least $72,500 from the indicted businessmen and several others, including two undercover FBI agents, during his 2019 reelection campaign.
According to the indictment, Jenkins exploited his position to benefit himself financially and secure funds for his reelection campaign. In return for the bribes, he granted his co-conspirators the status of auxiliary deputy sheriffs, allowing them to wield authority and carry badges and firearms. This move was authorized by Jenkins himself and came into effect in January 2020.
Furthermore, the indictment accuses Jenkins of 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 right to possess a gun. The reasons for Rahim losing his gun rights are not disclosed in the indictment.
Jenkins, Rahim, and the two other businessmen, Fredric Gumbinner and James Metcalf, were arrested early on the designated day and were scheduled for their initial appearances in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville.
The U.S. Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh made a statement on the matter, condemning Jenkins' actions, saying, "Scott Jenkins not only violated federal law but also violated the faith and trust placed in him by the citizens of Culpeper County by accepting cash bribes in exchange for auxiliary deputy badges and other benefits." Kavanaugh also emphasized that elected officials are expected to uphold the rule of law and not misuse their power for personal gain.
Jenkins had previously made headlines in Virginia for declaring his intentions to deputize county residents if the state legislature passed what he considered to be "unnecessary gun restrictions" after the Democratic majority's election. He announced this plan on Facebook in December 2019
Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins Arrested - FAQs
Scott Jenkins was arrested on federal public corruption charges for allegedly accepting cash bribes and donations in exchange for granting auxiliary deputy sheriff's appointments.
Jenkins is facing a 16-count indictment, including charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
The alleged bribery occurred during Jenkins' 2019 reelection campaign, starting from at least April 2019.
Three businessmen, including Rick Tariq Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner, and James Metcalf, were charged alongside Jenkins for allegedly paying bribes.
The indictment claims Jenkins accepted bribes totaling at least $72,500 from the indicted businessmen and several others.