CHARLOTTESVILLE (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – A Charlottesville federal judge has sentenced former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins to 10 years in federal prison for accepting more than $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing numerous northern Virginia businessmen as auxiliary deputies. A jury convicted Jenkins in in December on one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.

The government says according to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jenkins accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from co-defendants Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner, and James Metcalf, as well as at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents. In return for the bribes, Jenkins appointed each of the bribe payors as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials. The bribe payors were not trained or vetted and did not render any legitimate services to the Sheriff’s Office or the citizens of Culpeper County. In addition, Jenkins pressured other local officials to approve a petition filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court by Rahim, a convicted felon, to restore his right to possess a firearm and which falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County.

Rahim, Gumbinner, and Metcalf have all pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.