Maryland Sheriff Indicted for Alleged Scheme to Buy Unlawful Machine Guns

Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins at a meeting about illegal immigration issues in Bethesda, Md., on Oct. 17, 2017. Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times

A Maryland sheriff was indicted by a grand jury for an alleged conspiracy to illegally acquire machine guns, which included drafting false documents on his office’s letterhead.

Charles Jenkins, 66, has been the sheriff of Frederick County since his first election in 2006, and he was again reelected last year.

Robert Krop, 36, is the owner of firearms-related businesses in the county. Krop and his businesses had two Federal Firearms Licenses (FFL) allowing them to possess and deal in machine guns “under certain circumstances,” according to an April 5 press release by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Allegations leveled against Jenkins and Krop claim that both parties conspired to unlawfully procure machine guns between August 2015 and May 2022.

The duo is said to have falsified several documents on the letterhead of the sheriff’s office requesting machine guns for evaluation and demonstration to the office, only to rent these guns to other people and profit from it.

“Krop allegedly drafted these documents for Jenkins’ signature. According to the indictment, Jenkins and Krop knew that there would not be a demonstration of the machine guns to the Sheriff’s Office and that the machine guns were intended for rental to Krop’s customers,” the release said.

Krop’s business, The Machine Gun Nest, is alleged to have made more than $100,000 in profits from renting out the machine guns in 2018 and 2019 (pdf).

“Krop also allegedly illegally possessed seven machine guns. The indictment further alleges that Krop’s business offered political support to Jenkins in recognition of his support for the business,” the DOJ said.

During an April 5 press conference, Todd Wivell, public information officer for the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, said that Jenkins does not intend to take a leave of absence or step down from his post following the indictment.

In response to a request for comment, the sheriff’s office sent The Epoch Times the same written statement from Jenkins that Wivell read at the press conference.

“I will continue to serve as your sheriff as this process plays out, and fully expect my deputies, correctional officers, and staff to remain the true professionals that they are,” Jenkins stated. “At the advice of my attorney and out of respect for the justice process, I am not providing any comment at this time.”

Federal Regulation, Potential Punishment

Federal law bans the possession, transfer, and import of machine guns that were manufactured or imported after May 19, 1986, except by bona fide government agencies.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is tasked with administering and enforcing federal laws related to machine guns. Any domestic sale, purchase, or transfer of a machine gun or a permanent importation of such guns must be approved by the ATF.

At the press conference, Wivell said that Jenkins’ attorney has advised him not to talk about the case in public. Jenkins has known about the investigation for roughly a year.

“He’s been fully cooperative with the DOJ and the ATF the entire time,” Wivell said. “We had no knowledge that this was happening today until the press release came out from the DOJ at about 12:30.”

If convicted, both Krop and Jenkins face a potential maximum prison term of five years for conspiracy, issuing false statements to federal law enforcement, and falsifying statements in records maintained by a federal firearms licensee.

Krop faces an additional maximum sentence of 10 years for unlawful possession of a machine gun.