Ex-DMV worker gets 21 months in license scam

TAMPA -- A former state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles employee will spend 21 months in federal prison for illegally selling commercial driver's licenses, a judge ruled today.

Yolanda Pippins, who worked for the motor vehicle's Largo office, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge James S. Moody Jr. to pay a $1,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

She remains free on $10,000 bail until a surrender date has been set.

Pippins pleaded guilty in July 2006 to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Applicants are supposed to meet certain testing requirements to receive a commercial driver's license. Prosecutors said Pippins would sell the licenses to people, later identified by co-conspirators, who did not qualify.

Her prison sentenced will be followed by three years of supervised release.

-- Kevin Graham, Times staff writer