Indictments, arrests in D.C. taxi-bribery scandal
By: Bill Myers
Examiner Staff Writer
October 2, 2009
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| Examiner File photo |
Federal officials indicted some 30 taxi industry officials Friday as part of a wide-ranging corruption investigation that has already reached the office of D.C. Councilman Jim Graham, D-Ward 1.
The suspects were being rounded up Friday but the indictments were still under seal, federal law enforcement sources told The Examiner. Authorities have been investigating allegations of bribe-paying by cabbies to get new D.C. taxicab licenses and are also looking at the financing behind several taxicab companies, the sources said.
More than $220,000 in bribes are believed to have changed hands, the sources said.
Late last month, a federal grand jury indicted Graham's chief of staff, Ted Loza, on charges that he pocketed $1,500 in cash and several thousands more in gifts and free trips in exchange for influencing taxi legislation co-sponsored by his boss.
Graham has denied any wrongdoing. He said Friday morning that he has not been contacted by federal officials and he has not retained a lawyer.
Investigators continue to pore over records and wiretaps from the nearly two-year investigation and one law enforcement source said Friday that the investigation "is large and growing."
