CULPEPER COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) -- Former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Friday after he was convicted of multiple bribery charges last year. According to the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Virginia (USAO-WDVA), J enkins, 53, accepted over $75,000 in cash payments in exchange for appointing numerous Northern Virginia businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs within his department. According to Jenkins' indictment, the offenses began around 2019, during his reelection campaign, and continued through 2023. Jenkins accepted the bribes in the form of cash and campaign donations from several people, including Rick Rahim, Frederic Gumbinner, James Metcalf and at least five others, including two undercover FBI agents, according to the attorney's office. After accepting the bribes, Jenkins issued each person official Culpeper County Sheriff's Office badges and credentials, even though they were not trained or vetted for the job. “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,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said Friday. “We hold our elected law enforcement officials to a higher standard of conduct and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable. I am grateful to the FBI for their tireless work on this investigation.” In addition to the "cash-for-badges scheme," the attorney's office said Jenkins pressured other local officials to restore Rahim's right to possess a firearm. Rahim had been previously convicted and could no longer do so. Fairfax County teen found in New Jersey after trespassing in Fredericksburg school, prompting closures, police say “Every law enforcement officer takes an oath to serve and protect the community-- that includes following the law they’ve sworn to uphold.  I am proud of the diligent work our investigative team did on this case to bring Jenkins to justice,” said special agent in charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, Stanley M. Meador. The sentencing comes after a jury convicted Jenkins of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds in December 2024. Jenkins was first elected sheriff in 2011 and won election twice before he was defeated in 2023, according to the Associated Press. He ran as a Republican and an independent. Rahim, Gumbinner and Metcalf have all pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy, according to the attorney's office. ...read more read less