Sources:Taxicab Corruption Probe Widens

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The corruption probe centered in the office of D.C. City Councilmember Jim Graham has widened. Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation say federal agents are taking a close look at Graham and his role in shaping taxicab legislation.

The Ward One councilmember has not received a letter from prosecutors saying he is a target of the investigation, but federal agents are now trying to determine if the alleged corruption in his office went above his Chief of Staff.

Last Thursday, September 24, Teddy Loza was arrested and charged with accepting a bribe. The indictment says he took $1,500 in cash in exchange for influencing taxicab legislation.

Jim Graham would not comment on the record Monday. In fact, no one would. But sources familiar with the investigation say it is not over.

Federal agents are looking at evidence seized from the office of Teddy Loza in an effort to determine who if anyone might be involved in corruption.
On Friday, September 25, FOX 5 spoke with the councilmember about a man named in the indictment as “individual number one." That person has been identified as Abdulaziz Kamus.

"There are a significant number of cabbies in D.C. who are Ethiopian,” said Councilmember Jim Graham. “And he represented a fair share of those, so of course he would come and he would bring them with him and we did meet with them."

According to the indictment, Kamus, as “individual number one,” had been engaged in repeated and longstanding corrupt efforts to limit the number of taxi cab company licenses in the District. But somewhere along the line, Kamus agreed to cooperate with the FBI and wore a wire, capturing Teddy Loza, according to the indictment, accepting $1,500 in cash in return for favorable taxi cab legislation.

“The implication that somehow or another people got Teddy to somehow influence this legislation is just plain not accurate," said Graham in an interview outside his office.

Jim Graham did introduce legislation that would establish either a taxi cab medallion system or a taxi cab vehicle certificate system, but says it was drafted after a year long study.

"There has been no suggestion that I have committed any wrong doing and I haven't," said Graham.

Teddy Loza has served as Graham’s Chief of Staff for five years. His attorney Loza said he is innocent of the charges. Loza is on administrative leave with pay.

Jim Graham has postponed all hearings on taxi cab legislation until further notice.