DMV Employee Guilty of Widespread Corruption

A former California DMV employee, Jeffrey Bednarek, has pleaded guilty to his role in a widespread corruption scheme at the DMV in Southern California.

Bednarek, a Licensing Registration Examiner at the El Cajon DMV, admitted to conspiring with his co-defendants to commit federal program bribery and identification document fraud between April 2009 and April 26, 2012.

According to the plea agreement, Bednarek falsely entered ‘passing’ scores for driving tests in exchange for bribes, producing more than 100 fraudulent driver’s permits and licenses. The applicants paid over $50,000 in total bribes for these permits and licenses.

Bednarek also tampered with a Government witness while awaiting trial, attempting to persuade the witness to alter their testimony regarding cash bribes received by Bednarek. He was arrested on November 13, 2013, for witness tampering.

Of the 30 defendants charged in the corruption scheme, all have pleaded guilty to felony conduct, including conspiracy to commit bribery and identification document fraud. Bednarek is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. before United States District Judge Cathy A. Bencivengo.

Bednarek faces up to 5 years’ custody, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of 3 years for Count 1, conspiracy to commit bribery and to produce unauthorized identification documents. He also faces up to 10 years’ custody, a special assessment of $100, and a maximum term of supervised release of 3 years for Count 2, bribery. Additionally, Bednarek faces up to 20 years’ custody, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $100 for Count 7, witness tampering.

The cases are the result of an ongoing criminal investigation. Anyone with information about corruption at the DMV is asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 1-877-NO-BRIBE (662-7423), or the DMV’s Investigations Branch-Office of Internal Affairs at 626-851-0173.

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