USDOJ Press Release: Former Federal Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery

Former Public Official Pleads Guilty to Accepting a Bribe
U.S. Attorney’s Office June 02, 2011

Western District of New York (716) 843-5700

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that James H. Wood, 44, of Delevan, New York, pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe in his official duties before Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was a former field office supervisor for the Buffalo, New York office of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). In that capacity, Wood took money in exchange for delaying a compliance review/safety audit of a trucking company.

“This crime had the potential to compromise our government’s transportation regulatory system as it relates to the safety of our nation’s highways,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “This office—along with our law enforcement partners—stand ready to thoroughly investigate and prosecute any attempt to affect the integrity of either our nation’s governmental agencies or the well being of its citizens.”

The plea is the result of an investigation by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard W. Kollmar, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, Investigation Division, under the direction of Ned E. Schwartz, Special Agent in Charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 19, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.