Wednesday, September 30, 2009

GA DMV WORKER ALLEGEDLY CHARGED $2K FOR DRIVERS LICENSES

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that a Marietta driver's license examiner was charged with extortion and conspiracy for selling Georgia driver's licenses for $2,000 to illegal immigrants and others who didn't qualify for a license. Three additional men were also charged in connection with this scheme. According to officials, the Defendant, Gbemisola Wellington-Salako, issued approximately 40 bogus licenses between April 2008 and September 2009, including issuing licenses to a pair of undercover agents on Sept. 11, in exchange for $5,000. The Department of Drivers Services investigators joined with Immigration and Customs Enforcement fraud investigators to conduct the investigation.
While I agree with GBI director Vernon Keenan who said that sale of any government document to those who do not qualify is a major public safety issue, however in the state of Georgia that does not issue licenses to undocumented individuals who drive anyway on the road, the state creates a bigger public safety issue by preventing the issuance of drivers licenses them.