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Four from SC Indicted for Fraud in Ongoing Crackdown on Motor Carrier Violators

9 July 1998

Four from South Carolina Indicted For Fraud
In Ongoing Crackdown on Motor Carrier Violators

        The U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector
General (OIG) today announced that four South Carolina individuals and a
corporation have been charged with motor carrier fraud in an ongoing OIG
crackdown on violators of motor carrier regulations.

        Blackwell Auto Brokers, Inc., of Lamar, S.C. and John E.
Blackwell, 62; Linda M. Blackwell, 58; William L. Watford, 50; and Joe H.
Eddins, Jr., 30, were charged with conspiring to make false statements to
the Department of Transportation and filing false claims with insurance
companies.

        "Accidents involving trucks result in about 5,000 deaths each
year, and this case, as well as others around the country, should warn
truckers who break the law that public safety will not be compromised,"
Inspector General Kenneth M. Mead said.  "The Office of Inspector General
joins Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater and FHWA Administrator
Kenneth Wykle in making motor carrier safety one of the department's
highest investigative priorities."

        Mead said this case is a part of a concerted and ongoing
crackdown on motor carrier violations.  Since April 1, Mead said, OIG's
investigations have led to 27 federal indictments and 17 convictions.
During this period, the Inspector General's Office has collected $170,000
in fines, recoveries, and restitutions.  Perpetrators have been handed a
total of 67 months' imprisonment and 30 years of probation, and 43
investigations remain under way.

        The indictment alleges that the Blackwells, Watford, and Eddins
falsely claimed that Watford and Eddins were qualified to drive
semi-tractor trailers while working for Blackwell Auto Brokers, Inc. from
February 1996 to July 1997.   The maximum penalty each could receive is
five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

        The case was investigated by agents of department's Office of
Inspector General, the South Carolina State Transport Police and
department's Office of Motor Carriers. Prosecution is being handled by
Assistant United States Attorney William Day of the District of South
Carolina.

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