Larry MurphyNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee driver's license examiner has been charged with taking thousands of dollars in bribes to issue licenses to people who failed or did not take the written tests.
Federal prosecutors in Nashville said 54-year-old Larry Murphy of Nashville was a supervisory driver's license examiner employed by the state Department of Safety and worked at the licensing facility on Hart Lane.
According to a criminal complaint, an informant learned of Murphy during an investigation into a man known to the feds as "Castillo"who supplies undocumented immigrants with IDs. He led them to the licensing facility on Hart Lane in Nashville.
The complaint filed Wednesday in federal court said that between January and April, Murphy improperly provided several licenses to four undercover agents in exchange for payment. In one instance, the complaint said that Murphy made up a Social Security number when the undercover agent told him he did not have one.
"Corruption by public officials undermines the public trust and can threaten the overall safety of our community," said Aaron T. Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Public corruption is the number one criminal priority of the FBI and we will continue to work with our partners to bring to justice those who would seek to line their own pockets and in doing so, jeopardize the safety of the public."
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons issued a statement saying:
"The state's driver service center employees are on the front lines of homeland security," Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons said. "We must not let Tennessee driver licenses be issued to individuals who are not entitled to them. When we became aware of possible criminal activity involving this individual, we launched an immediate investigation and turned the case over to federal officials. Any action that places driver licenses in the hands of the wrong people will not be tolerated by this department."
An attorney for Murphy declined to comment on the charge when reached Thursday. If convicted, Murphy faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
