The Indiana Ethics Commission Thursday approved a minimal fine for a former Bureau of Motor Vehicles official who violated a state ethics policy.
When Shawn Walters was Chief of Staff at the BMV, he helped deliver a contract to Express MVA, a private contractor, that's netted the company millions of dollars since. Walters later went to work for Express MVA.
The Indiana Inspector General brought a complaint because Walters didn't observe what's called the one-year "cooling-off period." The state Ethics Commission unanimously approved a settlement between Inspector General Cynthia Carrasco and Walters in which the former BMV official will pay a $500 fine. Carrasco says the fine's amount is in line with other such settlements.
"Well, I won't go beyond just saying that we're happy with the agreed settlement, that the commission accepted it, I kind of gave you some background on how we came up with the fine and probably just stick with that," Carrasco said when asked how such a low amount creates any disincentive for others who might consider violating the policy.
The state no longer has a contract with Express MVA.