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Ex-Santa Clara Sheriff's Captain Convicted in Gun Permit Bribery Scheme

James Jensen found guilty of trading concealed carry permits for $90,000 in campaign donations to former Sheriff Laurie Smith.

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith walks to a news conference in Cupertino in 2011. A former sheriff’s captain was convicted of participating in a scheme to acquire concealed gun permits for security agents in exchange for campaign money for Smith’s reelection.

Overview

  • Jensen faces up to four years in state prison with sentencing set for September 9.
  • The scheme involved donations from AS Solution Inc. to Smith's 2018 reelection campaign.
  • Five individuals have been convicted in connection with the permit scandal so far.
  • Former Sheriff Laurie Smith resigned in 2022 amid related civil corruption charges.
  • Two more bribery cases involving additional defendants remain unresolved.