Following a previous mistrial, former Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung pleaded guilty to two bribery charges in a corruption scandal that led to former Sheriff Laurie Smith’s removal from office in 2022.Former Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung pleaded guilty Monday to two felony b ribery charges as he faced a retrial in a corruption scandal stemming from allegations that concealed-carry weapons (CCW) permits were being traded for political and other favors under former Sheriff Laurie Smith. According to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the plea brings an end to Sung’s criminal case after a previous jury failed to reach a verdict.As Bay Area News Group reports, Sung’s first trial in 2025 ended with jurors acquitting Apple security executive Thomas Moyer and former Sheriff’s Captain James Jensen, while they deadlocked on the charges against Sung. Prosecutors subsequently pursued a retrial.Smith was separately found guilty of civil corruption charges in 2022 after a proceeding that examined allegations of favoritism and misconduct involving the Sheriff’s Office’s CCW permit system. She was removed from office and resigned shortly before the proceeding concluded.The investigation into the scandal began after prosecutors received a tip following the 2018 election about an unusually large contribution to an independent expenditure committee supporting Smith’s reelection. It eventually led to charges against several people connected to the sheriff’s office and private security companies.One of Sung’s charges involved allegations that he helped secure a donation of 200 iPads from Apple in exchange for expediting concealed-carry weapons permits for members of the company’s executive security team. The other involved businessman Harpreet Chadha, whose luxury suite at the SAP Center was allegedly offered to the sheriff’s office while his CCW permit renewal was being held up.Under Monday’s agreement, Sung will permanently surrender his California peace officer certification, complete 400 hours of community service, and serve two years of probation. Per the News Group, he will later be able to seek reduction of the felony charges to misdemeanors, followed by expungement, if he completes the terms of the agreement.“Law enforcement in Santa Clara County must be equally determined to be incorruptible as it is determined to protect our community,” said District Attorney Jeff Rosen in a statement.Sung’s attorneys, Naomi Chung and Tamara Crepet, said in a statement that the plea brought an end to what they characterized as a politically motivated case, according to the News Group. They also argued that Smith, rather than Sung, had the legal authority to issue CCW permits.Sung reportedly retired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2022 following Smith’s resignation. The connected bribery charge against Chadha was dismissed Monday.Previously: Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith Convicted On All Counts In Corruption Trial ...read more read less