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FMCSA Exec Gets 18 Months, Fined and Fired for Taking Bribes
Posted: Jan 2, 2012 01:53 PM | Last Updated: Mar 27, 2012 08:28 AM

BUFFALO, NY — According to the Wall Street Journal, a former field officer with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been sentenced to 18 months for taking bribes from a consultant working with some Canadian trucking companies.

The report says, James Wood, 45, must also repay the estimated $41,300 he received from the consultants in payment for postponing safety audits and ensuring the companies passed inspections. The offences took place between 2008 and 2011.

Court documents also suggest that Wood might have been responsible for initiating complaint audits that could result in a carrier being fined or put out of business.

Wood pleaded guilty to the charges in June and was sentenced last week. He also lost his $80,000-a-year job with FMCSA as a result of the charges.

U.S. Prosecuting Attorney William Hochul said his office will not hesitate prosecuting “those who abuse their position.

“By accepting bribes,” he said, “this defendant not only abused his position of public trust, he also potentially put those who use public highways at risk.”

 
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THE ROAD-SCHOLAR

2012/01/05

at 10:12 PM

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So, they got the FMCSA Field Officer. Good! However, I would hope that the DoT did in fact perform full 'new entrant' audits of the Canadian carrier who benefitted from the shady services of this/these Canadian Trucking consultant(s), and that their operating authorities were cancelled, if they did not pass the audit with flying colours. Furthermore, these consultants should be charged in Canada with 'breach of trust' and 'fraud'!

jrhyno

2012/01/05

at 7:50 AM

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@Anonymous @patrick — The names of the companies haven't been released, but a couple of reports noted that a safety consultant for trucking companies recorded some of the illegal transactions. But as soon as we know the names, we'll let you know!

Anonymous

2012/01/05

at 7:27 AM

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0
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who is the consultant and the canadian companies he was working with? that info would be be helpful to this article.

patrick

2012/01/04

at 7:01 PM

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-7
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What is to be done to the companies, that were paying him off indirectly? And who are they?

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