A DeKalb County Grand Jury returned an indictment yesterday against former Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) employee Frederick Lawson and Lamondi Benton in DeKalb County Superior Court. The indictment alleges that Benton paid Lawson to produce false identification cards for her while he was employed with DDS as a license examiner.

Lawson is charged with six counts of Bribery (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-2), punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $100,000.00 for each count and six counts of False Statement (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20), punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $100,000.00 for each count. Benton is charged with 11 counts of False Statement (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-20), punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $100,000.00 for each count.

Assistant Attorney General Daniel A. Hiatt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. The case was investigated by Investigator Anthony Knotts and former Investigator Stephanie Brown of DDS.

Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual(s) against whom the indictment is sought. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and it will be the government’s burden at trial to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.