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Federal charges dropped against Frederick County sheriff

"This ordeal has made me believe that people that are currently running the system are not the right people." Sheriff Jenkins, said.

FREDERICK, Md. — Charges have been dropped against Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, who was indicted on federal charges in April 2023 for allegedly helping a scheme to obtain illegal machine guns. 

"This has been pure hell for myself, my entire family and friends. With almost 35 years in law enforcement, I have always believed in the justice system. This ordeal, has made me believe that people that are currently running the system are not the right people." Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, said. 

The sheriff spoke on Tuesday, during a press conference alongside his attorneys Andrea L. Smith and Margaret Teahan.

“This is a great day for me. A great day for the agency. We’re in a new time in America. I finally have my life back. My personal and my professional life."  Jenkins said. 

Jenkins had been accused of unlawfully purchasing machine guns for years. A six-count indictment alleged that between August 2015 and May 2022, Jenkins worked with a local shooting range owner and political supporter of his, Robert Justin Krop, to unlawfully buy machine guns and falsify multiple documents on the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office letterhead requesting machine guns for evaluation and demonstration to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. 

The indictment alleged the pair knew that there would never be a demonstration of the machine guns to the sheriff's office, and that the guns were actually intended to be rented by Krop's customers. Officials claimed the shooting range received more than $100,000 in profits from the machine gun rentals in 2018 and 2019 alone.

Krop was found not guilty in October. 

Jenkins' attorneys said Tuesday, there was simply no evidence.

“There was no evidence of a conspiracy. The Sheriff and Mr. Krop didn’t know each other. There was no evidence that the sheriff ever knowingly did anything with the intent to break the law." Attorney Andrea L. Smith, said. 

During the press conference, Jenkins told WUSA9, he believes it was a political prosecution.

“It was an assassination attempt similar to President Donald Trump on July 13. It was a near miss. I was injured and bloodied, but I never gave up the fight. I’ll never give up that fight, I never will." Jenkins said. 

Jenkins took a short leave of absence from his role before reinstating himself in August 2023. Jenkins was elected to his position in 2006 and was most recently reelected in 2022. 

Jenkins wouldn't say if he plans to run for re-election but, he was happy to announce his service weapon has been returned.

RELATED: A look into the Maryland sheriff connected to alleged machine gun rental scheme

RELATED: Frederick County Sheriff facing federal charges reinstates himself

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