South Dakota lawmakers moved to issue subpoenas to the head of the state Department of Revenue and Division of Motor Vehicles after three former state employees were allegedly involved in title fraud schemes.
DOR Secretary Mike Houdyshell appeared Monday before the state Government Operations and Audit Committee to address new controls and employee policies implemented within the department as two criminal cases make their way through the courts.
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Most of Houdyshell’s remarks centered on the department’s several new measures within the Motor Vehicles Division, following an internal investigation launched after the two alleged fraud cases were discovered.
But Houdyshell cited the pending cases and the threat of potential civil litigation as factors limiting him from answering certain questions related to the purported fraud incidents.
Sen. David Wheeler, of Huron, led the motion to subpoena both DMV Director Rosa Yaeger and Houdyshell. Wheeler said there are unanswered questions about the origins of the potential fraud schemes that the revenue secretary has not elaborated on publicly.