Federal charges against Frederick County Sheriff for alleged machine gun scheme dismissed
BALTIMORE -- Federal charges brought against Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins for an alleged scheme to illegally buy machine guns were dismissed Tuesday, according to the sheriff's office.
In April 2023, Sheriff Jenkins was indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and making false statements. Jenkins has served five terms as Frederick County sheriff since being elected in 2006.
Maryland firearms dealer Robert Krop, 36, was also charged with illegally possessing machine guns.
Krop was the owner of a firearm business in Frederick County, officials said. He had two firearms licenses that allowed him to have and sell machine guns.
The indictment alleged that Krop and Sheriff Jenkins conspired to illegally buy machine guns and "defraud" the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) by interfering with its job of limiting the purchase, sale and importation of machine guns for military and law enforcement agencies.
The alleged conspiracy started around August 2015 and continued through May 2022, according to the indictment.
During the alleged scheme, Krop and Sheriff Jenkins falsified documents in which they requested machine guns for evaluation and demonstration to the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, according to the indictment.
However, the men allegedly agreed they would not demonstrate the machine guns, but they would instead be used by Krop as rental guns for his business, the indictment said.
On April 12, 2023, Sheriff Jenkins pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and took a leave of absence.
Korp pleaded not guilty on April 13, 2023.
The two were indicted as co-conspirators, but in July 2023, both Jenkins' and Korp's attorneys requested the two have their own trials.
In August 2023, Sheriff Jenkins reinstated himself to full-duty status, ending his leave of absence.
It is unclear if charges against Krop were also dropped. If convicted, Krop could face a maximum sentence of five years for the conspiracy, plus an additional 10 years for unlawful possession of a machine gun, according to court officials.
Sheriff Jenkins is expected to hold a news conference on Tuesday at 3 p.m. to address the dismissed charges.