Former Culpeper County, Va., Sheriff Scott Howard Jenkins has been convicted of bribery for exchanging auxillery sheriff’s positions for cash.
On Jan. 1, 2020, a Jenkins-approved order went into effect, giving auxiliary deputy sheriffs and civilian volunteers the same duties and law enforcement powers as paid deputies, according to the indictment.
Jenkins appointed people as auxiliary deputy sheriffs by signing court orders and filing them before a Circuit Court Judge, according to the indictment. The appointments expired when the term of the appointing sheriff expired, but they could be re-appointed either by the same sheriff if reelected or by the new one.
Beginning in April 2019, Jenkins accepted bribes from Metcalf, Rahim, Gumbinner and the other co-conspirators and, in turn, appointed them to auxiliary deputy sheriffs, according to the indictment. Jenkins issued them badges and identification cards from the sheriff’s Office. The appointment also allowed them to carry a concealed weapon in any state without needing a concealed carry permit.
Jenkins appointed the individuals without giving them proper training, and he instructed the appointees to pay the bribes through other people or in cash transactions to conceal the payments, according to the indictment. Jenkins also created falsified firearm purchase receipts to hide the bribes.
During Jenkin’s reelection run against his Democratic challenger, Rahim worked with Jenkins to get donations in exchange for Rahim’s firearm rights being restored and the promise of being appointed as an auxiliary deputy sheriff if Jenkins won, according to the indictment.
Rahim’s company, BV Management LLC, wrote checks for thousands of dollars to Jenkins, which were memoed as a “loan,” according to the indictment. However, Jenkins did not disclose that he owed any creditors over $5000 on his conflict of interest disclosure forms.
When Jenkins won, he tried to pressure law officials to restore Rahim’s firearm rights and even tried to interfere with a speeding ticket, according to the indictment.
Jenkins was found guilty of all 12 counts he was charged with, including bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud. He will be sentenced on March 31, 2025, according to the DOJ press release.
Report Jessika Saunders | Feb 7, 2025
Report Jessika Saunders | Feb 6, 2025
Report Jessika Saunders | Feb 6, 2025
Join the mission and subscribe to our newsletter. In exchange, we promise to fight for justice.
Join the mission and subscribe to our newsletter. In exchange, we promise to fight for justice.