Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 61
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
(800) 654-4262

© 2024 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Owner of Alabama trucking school accused of bribing proctors

Pixabay

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama truck driving school owner has been charged with bribing a license examiner to show favoritism toward his students.

News outlets report 72-year-old James Welburn was indicted and arrested Thursday. He's charged with conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud offenses. Welburn owns American Truck Driving Academy in Lee County.

U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr. says Welburn paid an examiner to show preferential treatment toward his students. The bribed examiner allegedly tested students who hadn't possessed their learner's permit for at least 14 days, tested more than five students a day and refrained from testing students on certain trucking maneuvers the students couldn't perform. Franklin says Welburn paid the examiner $25 per student.

If convicted, Welburn faces prison time, monetary penalties and restitution.

It's unclear if Welburn has an attorney.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.
News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.