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INDIANAPOLIS -- 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 said the fine’s amount is in line with other such settlements. But when asked how such a low amount creates any disincentive for others who might consider violating the policy, she wouldn't say.
“Well, I won’t go beyond just saying that we’re happy with the agreed settlement, that the commission accepted it," Carrasco said. "I kind of gave you some background on how we came up with the fine and probably just stick with that.”
The state no longer has a contract with Express MVA.
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