Middlemen get prison in driver’s license bribery scheme
TAMPA — Two men received 21-month federal prison sentences today for taking part in a scheme to obtain fake commercial driver’s licenses through the Pinellas County Tax Collector’s Office in Largo.
Santos Alamo and Gustavo Soler both pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy and one count of fraudulent production of identification documents. Prosecutors said the men paid bribes to a tax collector employee in exchange for commercial driver’s licenses.
Yolanda Pippins, the tax collector employee, received a 21-month prison sentence earlier this year and was fined $1,000 for conspiracy to make false statements and to corruptly solicit and accept things of value in connection with the business of a state government agency.
The special license is required for drivers operating a commercial motor vehicle, which include vehicles that transport more than 16 people and vehicles that weigh more than 26,001 pounds. Applicants for a commercial driver’s license must complete a written and skills examination.
Prosecutors described Alamo as the main middleman between Pippins and the applicants paying the bribes. Investigators said Alamo recruited Soler as another middleman in the scheme.
-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer