Former California DMV employee pleads guilty to bribery charge
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A former employee with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, following a probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Andrew Kimura, 31, of Sacramento, was formerly employed by the DMV in Sacramento as a licensing-registration examiner where he processed applications for Class A and Class B commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and Class C noncommercial driver’s licenses.
In his plea agreement, Kimura admitted that, between April 2013 and July 2015, he received money from various brokers to provide CDLs to individuals who had not taken or passed the necessary DMV examinations. Kimura then accessed the DMV’s database to alter records indicating those individuals had passed certain tests. As a result, the individuals were able to obtain CDLs without having taken or passed the requisite written or behind-the-wheel driving tests. Additionally, Kimura also altered DMV records to provide for renewal of various CDLs in exchange for money from brokers.
“Corrupt actions at the expense of public safety are strictly unacceptable,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI San Francisco. “Allowing unqualified drivers on the road for selfish profit is reckless and could have resulted in fatal consequences. HSI continues to work with its law enforcement partners to continue to seek out those who commit public corruption.”
Kimura’s sentencing is set for Aug. 12 before U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd A. Pickles and Rosanne Rust.
Five other defendants have been charged in the case. Another former DMV employee, Emma Klem, 45, of Salinas, and a broker, Kulwinder Dosanjh Singh, 58, of Turlock, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. They are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendants Robert Turchin, 65, of Salinas, Mangal Gil, 55, of San Ramon, and Pavitar Dosangh Singh, 55, of Sacramento, are pending trial.
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