June 22, 2004
Attorney General Baker Announces Convictions In Motor Vehicle Records "Eraser" Scheme
Attorney General Thurbert Baker announced today the successful prosecution of a Department of Motor Vehicle Safety employee and her accomplice in a scheme centered on “fixing” motor vehicle records for cash. Lori Gilmer, an employee in the Driver Services Unit of DMVS, was charged after an investigation revealed that she and Nathan Mull were offering to erase convictions and revocations from individuals’ driving records in return for payment. After Attorney General Baker obtained an indictment against these individuals in February, Gilmer and Mull elected to avoid a trial by entering guilty pleas in front of Rockdale Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation to a felony count of computer forgery.
Following the guilty pleas on Monday afternoon, Judge Nation sentenced Nathan Mull to a 15 year sentence (3 years to serve and the balance to be spent on probation) and a $10,000.00 fine. Lori Gilmer received a 5 year sentence (1 year to serve and the balance to be spent on probation).
In announcing the sentences, Attorney General Baker stated, “These criminals not only broke the laws of this state, but they also broke the public trust. The stiff sentences in this case will serve clear notice that individuals seeking to offer their positions of trust for sale will be held to account and severely punished.”
This case arose after complaints came to DMVS in August 2002 about one of its employees shaking down private individuals for cash in return for making damaging driving records “go away.” The investigation revealed that Mull would advise individuals with poor driving records that he knew someone at DMVS who could “fix” their records in return for cash. Mull would then advise Gilmer whose records to fix.
Assistant Attorney General Javoyne Hicks handled the prosecution for the Attorney General’s office. Assisting in the investigation were Cliff Tackett and Mike Barrett from DMVS Internal Affairs.