Affidavit: Former Taxi Commissioner Linked to Bribery Scheme

Federal authorities believe former D.C. Taxicab Commission chairman Causton Toney participated in a long-running bribery scheme while he held that position from 2005-2007, the Washington Post reports this morning. A recently unsealed affidavit lays out the FBI's suspicions against Toney, who has not been charged with any crime, but whose home was raided in October.

The links between Toney and the bribery allegations stem from the same D.C. taxicab industry investigation that already snagged Ted Loza and 30 some odd taxi drivers.

Authorities have not indicated why they raided Toney's house Oct. 2. He does business with Syume but is not named in the indictment. In the newly unsealed court papers, an FBI agent says that wiretaps and other recorded conversations link the former taxi commissioner to the conspiracy.

In November 2007, Toney told Syume in a phone call that he had talked to Swain and that Swain had told him that he "wants us to keep pushing ahead . . . to get this thing done so -- I'm going to do that," the affidavit says. The agent wrote that Toney's comments are a "possible reference to completing their scheme."