Neta Centio, Bribing RMV Examiner, Massachusetts 2024

A brazen scheme to circumvent the law landed Neta Centio, 56, behind bars yesterday as she was sentenced to 15 months in prison for bribing a road test examiner at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) in Brockton to issue driver’s licenses to individuals who did not take road tests.

The scheme, which was uncovered in August 2023, involved Centio paying a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV service center to misrepresent to the RMV that certain driver’s license applicants had passed their road test when, in fact, they had not even shown up for the test.

As a result of the fraud, the RMV mailed driver’s licenses to unqualified applicants. Centio used CashApp to pay the road examiner in exchange for fraudulent passing scores on road tests, ultimately paying over 40 individual bribes to her co-conspirator.

After Centio’s fraud was discovered, she told the road test examiner, “Don’t say nothing about the CashApp. . . . Break the phone.” This disturbing warning suggests Centio was aware of the severity of her actions and the potential consequences.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Adam Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, announced the sentencing today.

Neta Centio, a resident of Taunton, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 15 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $10,000 and forfeiture of $19,305. The charges against Centio include one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, for which she pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023.

The brazen nature of Centio’s crimes and her subsequent attempts to conceal them have raised serious concerns about public corruption and the need for greater oversight of government agencies.

Neta Centio, a 56-year-old resident of Taunton, Massachusetts, will serve 15 months in prison, one year of supervised release, pay a fine of $10,000 and forfeit $19,305 for bribing a road test examiner at the RMSV in Brockton to issue driver’s licenses to unqualified applicants.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Neta Centio
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Mail Fraud
City and State: Taunton, Massachusetts
Exact Date: August 21, 2023 (plea), March 7 (sentencing), 2024
Sentence: 15 months in prison, one year of supervised release, fine of $10,000 and forfeiture of $19,305

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