A former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for accepting over $75,000 in bribes. Scott Howard Jenkins, 53, was convicted in December 2024 on charges including conspiracy, honest services fraud, and bribery related to programs receiving federal funds.
"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," stated Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee. He emphasized that elected law enforcement officials are held to a higher standard and will be held accountable if they misuse their authority for personal gain. Lee expressed gratitude to the FBI for their investigative work.
Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, remarked on the importance of law enforcement officers upholding the law they have sworn to protect. "I am proud of the diligent work our investigative team did on this case to bring Jenkins to justice," Meador said.
Court documents revealed that Jenkins accepted bribes from co-defendants Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner, James Metcalf, and others, including undercover FBI agents. These bribes were given in exchange for appointments as auxiliary deputy sheriffs with official badges and credentials from the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office. The individuals involved were not trained or vetted and did not perform any legitimate services.
Additionally, Jenkins exerted pressure on local officials to approve a petition by Rahim—who is a convicted felon—to restore his firearm rights based on false residency claims.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith for the Western District of Virginia along with Trial Attorneys Celia Choy and Lina Peng from the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.
