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Feds Say NorCal DMV Employees Traded Cash For Truck Driving Licenses

SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- Federal authorities say as many as 100 commercial truck drivers paid up to $5,000 each to bribe state Department of Motor Vehicles employees for illegal California licenses.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento says Emma Klem, a 45-year-old Salinas DMV employee, and a trucking school owner from Turlock each pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit bribery and to commit identity fraud.

Two other DMV employees in Salinas and Sacramento and two other trucking school operators face similar charges. Two pleaded not guilty, and the others are awaiting arraignment.

Court records say the employees changed computer records to falsely show that drivers passed written and behind-the-wheel tests.

Prosecutors say the owners of three truck driving schools bribed the DMV employees between June 2011 and March 2015.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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