Former Transportation Safety Investigator Pleads Guilty To Falsifying Records
Greensboro, N.C. – United States Attorney Ripley Rand announced today that a Raleigh man has waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a one count Information charging him with making false statements in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.
The guilty plea was entered on March 16, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, by James Jeffrey "Jim" Brylski, 64, of Raleigh, North Carolina. Brylski, a former Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, safety investigator, is the owner of a business called DOT Advisor in Raleigh, which is a transportation consulting business that specializes in United States Department of Transportation regulations pertaining to the commercial trucking industry.
The Information alleges that, while acting as an agent of Mabe Trucking Co., Inc., in Eden, North Carolina, Brylski engaged in the falsification of driver's duty status logs for the purpose of concealing from the DOT’s FMCSA the number and times of hours driven as required by FMCSA Regulations. These regulations limit the number of hours a truck driver can operate a vehicle in order to prevent motor vehicle accidents caused by driver fatigue. Truck drivers are required to record their duty status on logs to ensure they do not exceed the maximum number of allowable driving hours, and that they receive sufficient rest before driving again. Brylski is alleged to have falsified such logs in an effort to allow truck drivers of Mabe Trucking Co., Inc., to exceed these hours of service restrictions and avoid detection from law enforcement.
Brylski's guilty plea follows that of the President of Mabe Trucking Co., Inc., Roger D. "Butch" Mabe, Jr., 49, of Eden, North Carolina. On January 10, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Mabe likewise waived indictment and pleaded guilty, individually and on behalf of Mabe Trucking Co., Inc, to a one count Information charging that he violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001 by falsifying driver's duty status logs.
Sentencing for Mabe and Mabe Trucking Co., Inc., is scheduled for April 20, 2012, in Greensboro. Sentencing for Brylski is scheduled for June 15, 2012 in Greensboro. Mabe and Brylski each face a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Mabe Trucking Co., Inc., may be subject to a fine of up to $500,000 and probation for not less than one nor more than five years.
The charges against Brylski, Mabe, and Mabe Trucking Co., Inc., were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cliff Barrett.
