2 months ago
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA)-- Sources tell 9NEWS NOW that the FBI probe includes alleged bribes at the DC Vehicle Inspection station in Southwest.
Back in April 9NEWS NOW disclosed that cab drivers were leaving twenty dollar bills in the ash trays of their vehicles.
Some inspectors were taking the bribes as payment for overlooking deficiencies on the cabs that should have earned them a rejection sticker.
A second part of the FBI probe centers on City Hall. On Thursday the FBI arrested Ted Loza, chief of staff to DC Councilman Jim Graham.
Loza is charged with accepting trips, gifts and bribes of 15 hundred dollars in exchange for legislation introduced by Graham that favored certain cab companies.
Pleasant Broadnax, Loza's attorney, said that his client will be cleared once all the information comes out.
Sources close to the FBI probe tell 9NEWS NOW that Councilman Graham is also a target of the probe. The Ward One Councilman has obtained legal counsel, James Cooper, a former assistant U.S. attorney now with of Arnold and Porter law firm. Graham says he's done nothing wrong and knew of no wrong doing on Loza's part.
Our sources say both Graham and Loza are on tape talking with who they thought was a cab company representative when in fact they were communicating with an undercover FBI agent.
Our sources say bribes exceeding $150,000 were also offered to a member of the DC taxicab comission, who went to DC police who turned the investigation over to the FBI.
Written by 9NEWS NOW
