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Chicagoan Gets 2 Years in Licenses-for-Bribes Case
CHICAGO (AP) -- A federal judge has sentenced a former employee of the Illinois secretary of state's office to two years in prison for taking bribes to issue driver's licenses.

James Howell of Chicago pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion Wednesday. Howell told U.S. District Judge John Darrah that he acted ``out of ignorance and greed.''

The Chicago Tribune reports that Howell took $100 bribes, mostly from Chinese nationals. The investigation into the Chinatown phony-licensing ring has led to 19 convictions so far.

According to his plea agreement, Howell was so busy taking bribes that he didn't administer road tests. Instead, he filled in the test scores to ensure applicants passed.

A spokesman says the Illinois secretary of state has canceled the licenses of nearly 3,000 drivers because of such bribes.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
06 02 11 by Newsroom
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