Corruption Charges Dropped Against Maryland Sheriff, Former Virginia Sheriff Headed to Trial
On November 12, 2024, federal prosecutors dropped their criminal case against Sheriff Chuck Jenkins of Maryland’s Frederick County, for allegedly obtaining weapons fraudulently from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Meanwhile, on the other side of the Washington, D.C. exurbs in Virginia’s Culpepper County, former Sheriff Scott Jenkins—who is no relation—missed the start of his trial on the same day on bribery and corruption charges.
As PLN reported, Chuck Jenkins, 67, was accused of fraudulently ordering machine guns from ATF for demonstration and evaluation—when in fact they were later rented out for profit by local gun shop owner Robert Justin Krop, 37, who was also charged with conspiracy and providing false statements to acquire the guns. [See: PLN, Sep. 2023, p.53.] A jury found Krop not guilty of those charges on October 24, 2024; three weeks later, the government dropped its case against the Sheriff, who called it an “assassination attempt” similar to that carried out during the recent campaign of Pres.-elect Donald J. Trump (R). “It was a near miss,” Jenkins said. “I was injured and I was bloodied, but I didn’t give up the fight.”
As PLN also reported, Scott Jenkins, 52, was charged with taking bribes totaling more than $72,500 to make three local businessmen auxiliary deputy sheriffs—issuing them badges, identification cards, guns and body armor, even helping one get his gun rights restored. [See: PLN, Feb. 2024, p.48.] Jury selection for Jenkins’ trial was delayed until November 14, 2024, after an anxiety attack sent him to the hospital with a pike in blood pressure. His attorneys argued for a two-week delay, but federal prosecutors secured a shorter two-day stay. Meanwhile, co-defendants Frederick Gumbinner, James Metcalf and Rick Tariq Rahim pleaded guilty in November 2023, January 2024 and April 2024, respectively. Their sentencing is set for January 2025. PLN will update developments in the case as they are available. See: United States v. Jenkins, USDC (W.D. Va.), Case No. 3:23-cr-00011.
Additional sources: Culpepper Times, Frederick News Post, WRC