Summary

Dean R. Bauer, the former inspector general for the State of Illinois Secretary of State's Office, was sentenced to 366 days in federal prison by a U.S. District Court judge in Chicago for his role in a licenses-for-bribes scandal. Bauer was also ordered to serve 24 months' supervised release and to pay a $10,000 fine. Bauer pleaded guilty January 17 to obstruction of justice in his effort to thwart the Federal investigation focusing on fraud in the Illinois CDL program, administered by the Secretary of State. The 2-year old investigation uncovered extensive fraud and corruption in the licensing of truck drivers in Illinois and Florida. To date, 41 individuals have been charged in numerous extortion and bribery schemes and 37 have pleaded guilty or have been sentenced. The investigation is continuing. Operation Safe Road is a task force investigation involving OIG, FBI, IRS/CID, Postal Inspection Service, and the Illinois State Police.