Former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Friday after he was convicted in December of all 12 conspiracy, fraud and bribery charges against him.
In federal court in Charlottesville, the judge said Jenkins took an oath and failed.
“The jury decided you are in fact a criminal,” Judge Robert Ballou said as Jenkins stared at him from across the courtroom. “Understand this situation was created by actions you took yourself.”
For years, Culpeper County residents saw Jenkins as their elected sheriff and local lawman. But behind the scenes, we now know he collected bribes for years, with some going to his campaign and some kept for himself.
We've got the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.
The News4 I-Team got an exclusive first look on Friday at some of the evidence used to convict the former sheriff.
In one video presented at trial, investigators say Jenkins was accepting a $5,000 check from a Virginia businessman who testified against Jenkins but was not charged.
“Thank you so much,” Jenkins said in the video. “I’m gonna make it official with a badge.”
Jenkins then gives the man an auxiliary deputy’s badge.
In all, federal prosecutors proved Jenkins took $110,000 from 10 men, including two undercover FBI agents, between 2015 and 2023.
In many instances, he was caught on undercover video accepting the money. Each of the bribe payors was sworn in as an auxiliary deputy and given a badge allowing them enhanced gun rights and, as some testified, the hope they could get out of speeding tickets. Others used the badges in attempts to get a COVID test, drive in highway emergency lanes or get around a TSA line.
Many of those who paid bribes testified they met Jenkins though Kevin Rychlik, a business owner and longtime Jenkins associate. A sentencing memorandum said Rychlik agreed to testify against Jenkins after pleading guilty to unrelated tax charges.
‘You have cash from him in the bag’
Video shows Jenkins leaving a Culpeper steakhouse with Rychlik and another uncharged but admitted bribe payer and discussing it on an undercover recording minutes later. A photograph entered into evidence at trial shows Jenkins and three other men standing in a parking lot, with Jenkins and another man holding gift bags.
“He put it in the bag, so, you have cash from him in the bag,” Rychlik said in the recording.
A photo shows Jenkins with Rick Rahim, another man who testified to paying for a badge, together working at a presidential visit to Culpeper in 2022.
Rahim is a convicted felon who testified he paid Jenkins at least $35,000 in bribes.
At trial and in a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors explained Rahim wanted his right to own a gun restored and Jenkins agreed to use his position as sheriff to help.
The pair met for the first time on July 31, 2019, at the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office.
An FBI analysis of Jenkins’ finances entered into evidence at trial showed that week, Jenkins had $199 in his bank account and roughly $39,000 in credit card debt.
The sentencing memorandum says that very day, “in the cab of Jenkins’ pick truck, Rahim handed Jenkins a $15,000 cash bribe.”
Jenkins pleaded not guilty and never admitted to doing anything wrong. At trial, he testified some of the bribes were money to set up a business with Rahim.
Jenkins received three years’ probation to be served after his 10-year sentence. In the federal system, he will have to serve 85% of his sentence before he’s eligible for any early release. He was not taken into custody immediately, as the government had requested. He did not say anything to News4 as he left the federal courthouse in Charlottesville surrounded by family.
Jenkins’ attorney said he plans to appeal “through any available avenue” but did not answer the I-Team’s question about asking for a pardon or clemency through President Donald Trump’s administration.
Two other defendants in the case also were sentenced Friday. Fredric Gumbinner got three years’ probation and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. James Metcalf also got three years’ probation and was ordered to pay $75,000. Both pleaded guilty to paying a bribe to get a badge.
News4 sends breaking news stories by email. Go here to sign up to get breaking news alerts in your inbox.
