CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A man from Northern Virginia has pleaded to charges connected with a federal bribery scheme involving a former Culpeper County Sheriff.

According to a release, 60-year-old Rick Rahim of Great Falls pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery and honest services mail fraud and one count of honest services mail fraud.

He was accused of paying a cash bribe to then-Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins.

“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates how seriously the Justice Department takes public corruption and the bribery of public officials,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh. “The badges and guns worn by the men and women who swear an oath to protect and serve the Commonwealth of Virginia is not for sale and those who attempt to buy that honor will be held to account.”

Court records show that Rahim owned and operated multiple businesses, including BV Management LLC and Food Truck Company LLC.

He was disqualified from owning a firearm because of a previous state felony conviction and also had no military or law enforcement experience.

In either 2003 or 2004, Rahim met a businessman living in Prince William County who was also serving as an auxiliary deputy for the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office.

Then in late 2019, the businessman asked Rahim if he wanted to “support” the then-sheriff, which Rahim understood to mean give money to the sheriff.

The businessman told Rahim that Jenkins would probably agree to make Rahim another auxiliary deputy in exchange for that support.

Rahim agreed, and on July 31, 2019, the three met at the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office.

During that meeting, the businessman, Rahim and Jenkins talked about Rahim’s felony record and his desire to get his firearms rights restored.

Jenkins said he could use his official position to make sure that Rahim’s petition to restore his firearms rights would be granted.

Jenkins and Rahim agreed that Rahim would provide things of value to Jenkins in exchange for using an elected official’s position to restore Rahim’s rights and Rahim would also be appointed as an auxiliary deputy.

On two occasions, Rahim gave Jenkins manila envelopes containing $15,000 and $10,000 respectively. In addition, Rahim made in-kind donations to Jenkins’ campaign, which included a campaign billboard and about 200 customized knives.

Rahim also loaned Jenkins $17,500 toward a new home Jenkins was building, and Rahim never asked to be repaid because he wanted to keep a good relationship with Jenkins.

On May 27, 2020, Rahim was sworn in as an auxiliary deputy, and he was issued a badge and identification card

Rahim is the third businessman to plead guilty in connection with this scheme, in which he paid a $25,000 cash bribe to Jenkins'’s re-election campaign.

Previously, James Metcalf of Manassas and Frederic Grumbinner of Fairfax each pleaded guilty to one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.