Former PennDot employee charged with illegally issuing driver’s licenses and accepting bribes

PHILADEPHIA —An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia led to the indictments of a former driver’s license examiner with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and a Philadelphia man Aug. 29, for conspiracy, bribery and other charges. The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General assisted in the investigation with cooperation from PennDOT.

Henry Gibbs, 54, a United States citizen, is charged with conspiracy to produce identification documents without lawful authority and bribery concerning agencies receiving federal funds.  The charge of conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and the charges of bribery concerning agencies receiving federal funds carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

Gibbs is also charged with false statements to government agents, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Bakary Camara, 30, a lawful permanent resident, is charged with conspiracy to produce identification documents without lawful authority and bribery concerning agencies receiving federal funds.  The charge of conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and the charges of bribery concerning agencies receiving federal funds carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

Camara is also charged with aiding and abetting social security fraud and aggravated identity theft, which carry a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.  He also faces a two year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment that must run consecutive to any other sentence for the aggravated identity theft charge.

According to court documents, Gibbs, a former driver’s license examiner with PennDOT, accepted cash payments in exchange for the issuance of driver’s licenses to others, including foreign nationals, who failed to take the required tests and to provide acceptable proof of residency.  Gibbs accepted falsified documents to establish proof of residence, including utility bills, cellular telephone bills and insurance documents as well as tax letters containing identifying information for other people.  Camara provided Gibbs the names, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers and/or social security numbers for the driver’s license recipients, and paid Gibbs cash to improperly issue both non-commercial and commercial driver’s licenses.

An indictment, information or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.