An alleged driver license testing scam drove a Denver grand jury this week to indict a driver’s license tester and for more than 1,500 driver’s licenses to be revoked by the DMV.
The charges allege that 53-year-old Dennis Dean Sieving, a manager at American Driving Academy in Arvada, implemented a scheme from May 2010-February 2011 where he forged documents to falsely claim that more than 1,000 people had successfully completed the required testing to get a driver’s license. As part of the scheme, Sieving allegedly falsely certified that the applicants had taken and passed driving tests; the applicants then provided the false certification to Colorado DMV and received a State of Colorado driver’s license or an instruction permit issued by the Colorado DMV.
“The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles works hard to protect the public from unsafe drivers and has taken an active role in rooting out unlawful behavior by unscrupulous driving instructors,” said a statement from Roxy Huber, executive director of the Colorado Department of Revenue, which includes the DMV. “Our staff has also helped those who were unknowingly harmed in this case by making sure those drivers were able to take the tests as soon as possible to show they are qualified to be on the roads.”
Sieving allegedly accepted cash payments of approximately $50 from applicants for forging the documents and did not report the earnings to his employer, ADA. As another part of the scheme, Sieving allegedly falsified the written driving examination results for applicants who could not speak English adequately or who could not pass for other reasons, such as living in a state other than Colorado.
“The defendant fraudulently certified hundreds of driving tests that were either inadequate, or simply were not administered at all,” says a press release from the Department of Justice.
Because of Sieving’s alleged illegal activities, the DMV revoked more than 1,500 licenses. David Marwell, special agent in charge of ICE HIS in Denver, said that “everyone on the road is directly threatened by unqualified drivers” and that anyone who gets a fraudulent government ID may be a threat to the public.
Biased towing in mobile home park?
A mobile home park in Federal Heights has been accused of discriminating against residents of Mexican descent by towing their vehicles while other residents’ vehicles weren’t towed at all.
A notice was filed by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission alleging that managers at the Kimberly Hills Mobile Home Park in Federal Heights implemented discriminatory practices. According to Steven Chavez, director of the Civil Rights Division of DORA, an investigation found that the residents of Mexican descent often had their cars towed in the middle of the night and “were unduly subjected to costly impound fees at the direction of their landlord for no other reason than their national origin.” Meanwhile, other residents’ cars were not towed.
“It is imperative that the people of Colorado have a place to call home that is free of harassment and unequal treatment; policies of housing communities must be applied equally and fairly, regardless of a person’s national origin,” Chavez said in a statement.
The case is currently scheduled for public hearing before a judge on Aug. 29.
Potential murder-suicide in Denver
Denver police this week discovered two dead bodies in a Denver home that they suspect resulted from a murder-suicide.
On Tuesday at approximately 5:30 p.m., Denver police were called to 3847 Bryant St. on a report that two bodies had been found inside the residence. Further investigation disclosed a dead man and woman. Investigators suspect the woman and man had a relationship with each other.
The identities of the bodies were not released as of yesterday evening.
School board member accused of sexual harassment
A school board member in Northern Colorado has been accused of committing sexual harassment and being drunk at a board meeting.
According to the Greeley Tribune, Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education member Brett Reese has been accused of inappropriately touching and making sexually suggestive comments to a K-8 teacher. Reese has denied that he was inappropriate with the teacher and said he never drinks alcohol, and could therefore never be drunk at a school board meeting, according to the Tribune.
The school board has scheduled a meeting today to consider censuring Reese.
No comments:
Post a Comment