Former DMV Program Manager Admits to Bribery Conspiracy

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Virginia
24 February 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RICHMOND, Va. – A former Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employee pleaded guilty today to his role in a seven-year bribery conspiracy involving the DMV’s Virginia Rider Training Program (VRTP).

According to court documents, Bruce A. Biondo, 63, of Mechanicsville, was the former Program Manager of the VRTP, and worked for the DMV from 1988 until 2018.

Beginning in at least 2011 and continuing to March 2018, Biondo admitted he accepted bribes from outside contractors, including a $15,000 payment from the sham sale of a motorcycle in 2011, additional cash payments totaling over $74,000 between February 2014 and February 2018, and the use of a Ford F-450 pick-up truck for personal purposes. In exchange, Biondo agreed to perform and performed official actions to benefit the preferred VRTP contractors who provided the bribes.

Biondo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud through bribery and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on July 14. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David W. Archey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Michael C. Westfall, Virginia State Inspector General; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent; and Joseph Hill, DMV Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Maguire is prosecuting the case.

This case stems from a complaint received by Virginia DMV. The DMV’s Internal Audit Office and Law Enforcement Division conducted an investigation and found sufficient cause to refer the case to the Office of the State Inspector General and federal authorities.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-18.