Former Driving Instructor Sentenced for Bribing RMV Road Test Examiner
BOSTON, MA – Ngan Dinh, a 48-year-old Boston resident, has been sentenced for conspiring to defraud the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) into issuing driver’s licenses to applicants who did not pass the road test.
On March 2024, Dinh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud. Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris sentenced Dinh to two years’ probation with the first six months to be served as home confinement with GPS monitoring, a fine of $4,000, and a $5,450 forfeiture.
Dinh, a naturalized U.S. citizen who speaks Vietnamese and some English, targeted Vietnamese immigrants who did not speak or read English. They relied on Dinh to help them comply with RMV rules and requirements but instead, Dinh bribed a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV to misrepresent to the RMV that Dinh’s customers had passed the road test – when in fact they had not. Some customers did not even show up for the test.
Customers paid Dinh as much as $1,200 – with Dinh insisting that all payments be in cash. Dinh persuaded some customers to pay him such large amounts by lying to them. For example, he told some applicants that the RMV was not offering road tests because of the pandemic, which was false, and that he could get them licenses because he was a “certified rep” for the RMV – a non-existent position. Dinh paid the RMV employee a $100 cash bribe for each of his customers and kept the rest of the money for himself.
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 made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
The crime was uncovered after an investigation into the RMV and its employees. Dinh’s actions resulted in thousands of dollars in losses for his customers, who were misled into paying for services that were not delivered.
The Massachusetts RMV has taken steps to prevent similar scams in the future, including increasing oversight and monitoring of road test examiners. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
Dinh’s sentence serves as a reminder that corrupt officials and individuals will be held accountable for their actions. The public corruption unit will continue to work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the RMV and ensure that all citizens have access to fair and honest services.
Ngan Dinh, Defendant/Respondent
Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud
City and State: Boston, MA
Exact Date: March 2024 and Yesterday
Sentence or Outcome: Two years’ probation with the first six months to be served as home confinement with GPS monitoring, a fine of $4,000, and a $5,450 forfeiture
Dollar Amounts: $1,200, $4,000, $5,450
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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