DC Official Who Wore FBI Wire Speaks For First Time

WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- The Chairman of the DC Taxicab Commission, Leon Swain, says it took him less than a month to collect almost 40 bribes from individuals looking for illegal licenses to operate cabs on the city's streets.

Swain agreed to wear an FBI wire after being approached with a bribe. He says there had been a culture of corruption in the DC Taxicab Commission office and a former chairman was arrested.

The drivers nabbed in a joint FBI and Metro Police Department sting last Friday appeared in federal court Monday. Some claimed they were unaware that they were paying bribes when they turned over envelopes with cash to Swain at a Southeast apartment unit.

The Attorney General for the District, Peter Nickles, agreed to allow Swain to talk to 9NEWS NOW, but he could not discuss details of the FBI investigation. He called Swain an example for all city workers.