SC Co. Undersheriff Indicted In Gun Permit Probe

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A grand jury indicted Santa Clara County Undersheriff Rick Sung Friday, the latest development in a gun permits bribery and conspiracy probe that has rocked the Sheriff's Office.

Sung is the county’s second-in-command to Sheriff Laurie Smith. He is described as a Smith loyalist in a Mercury News report.

Both Sung and Smith asserted their Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in an August appearance before a criminal grand jury.

Smith has not been charged.

The Sheriff’s Office issued a statement Friday confirming the indictment.

“On November 20, 2020, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office was made aware that Undersheriff Rick Sung has been formally indicted by a Grand Jury,” the statement said.

“Undersheriff Sung has been placed on administrative leave and we continue to cooperate with the District Attorney’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining the highest level of public trust and keeping public safety as our highest priority.”

Capt. James Jensen was among four people indicted in August.

Jensen, who is on administrative leave following the August indictment, was issued another indictment, according to Friday's announcement.

Jensen's leave took effect in August when the District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced that Jensen, gun manufacturer Michael Nichols and two attorneys, Christopher Schumb and Harpaul Nahal, were accused of conspiring with the CEO and a middle manager from the security company AS Solution.

The company allegedly offered a $90,000 bribe in exchange for 10-12 concealed firearm permits for the company's executive protection agents, according to the district attorney.

Jensen, Nichols, Schumb and Nahal may face prison time. Sheriff's officials did not say what Sung's indictment or the latest indictment of Jensen was for.

Rosen will make an announcement Monday in the gun permits bribery and conspiracy probe.

Capt. James Jensen, who is on administrative leave following the August indictment, was issued another indictment, according to Friday's announcement.

Jensen's leave took effect in August when the District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced that Jensen, gun manufacturer Michael Nichols and two attorneys, Christopher Schumb and Harpaul Nahal, were accused of conspiring with the CEO and a middle manager from the security company AS Solution.

The company allegedly offered a $90,000 bribe in exchange for 10-12 concealed firearm permits for the company's executive protection agents, according to the district attorney.

Jensen, Nichols, Schumb and Nahal may face prison time.

Sheriff's officials did not say what Sung's indictment or the latest indictment of Jensen was for.
Rosen will make an announcement Monday in the gun permits bribery and conspiracy probe.

— Bay City News and Patch editor Gideon Rubin contributed to this report