⏱ 2 min read
Ryan Basnaw, a 29-year-old from Meridian, Idaho, attempted to bribe his way to a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) by offering a CDL skills tester $500 cash in exchange for a passing score without taking the test. The incident occurred on July 2, 2025, and was a blatant attempt to circumvent the required testing process. Basnaw’s goal was to have three restrictions removed from his CDL without putting in the necessary effort. The Idaho Transportation Department contracts with third-party testers to administer the exams, and it appears that Basnaw tried to exploit this system for his own gain.
The Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles received over $10,000 in federal funding in 2025, which makes Basnaw’s actions a federal offense. He has since pleaded guilty to federal program bribery and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026. The cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General led to the charges against Basnaw.
Basnaw faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol, and U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis commended the agencies involved for their work in bringing Basnaw to justice.
The outcome of this case serves as a reminder that attempting to bribe one’s way through the system will not be tolerated. The CDL testing process is in place to ensure public safety, and Basnaw’s actions put that at risk. His guilty plea and upcoming sentencing will likely have significant consequences for his future.
Related Federal Cases
- Tracy Tucker, Right to Counsel Violation, Idaho 2023 · Washington
- W.P. Conger, Auditorium Embezzlement, Idaho 2024 · Alabama
- Assemblyman McBurney, Bribery, Nevada 2024 · Washington
- Loyalty Tested: A Web of Deceit in Shoshone, Idaho · Washington
- Jerry L. Jensen, Bribery Scheme, Arkansas 2023 · Nebraska
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Public Corruption
- Defendant: Idaho
- Location: ID
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption