Prosecutors said Yitbarek Syume, 53, was a key player in a corruption probe that netted about three dozen people in a scheme to pay bribes for cab licenses. Syume faces seven to nine years in prison. According to his plea agreement, Syume admitted to paying bribes to obtain multivehicle taxicab company licenses and to influence legislation that would increase the value of those licenses. Syume and his associates made about $360,000 in illegal payments, prosecutors said. Sixteen people have pleaded guilty in the investigation, including Ted Loza, the former chief of staff of D.C. Councilman Jim Graham.

Accountant admits theft

A National Consumers League accountant pleaded admitted that she orchestrated a scheme to embezzle more than $200,000 from the organization. Carolyn Mitchell, 47, of D.C., pleaded guilty this week to a charge of forging securities. Prosecutors said she deposited checks from donors to NCL and checks from the District-based organization to its vendors into her own bank account. Mitchell took $210,800 from the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, court records show. She is scheduled to be sentenced June 24.

Gunman fired from car

Prince William County police are looking for a man who fired several shots from a moving vehicle. Around 1 a.m. on Feb. 5, police responded to the area of Leatherwood Lane and Dashiell Place in Dale City for a call of shots fired. A witness told police that he was returning home when he saw a vehicle driving without headlights and honked his horn to get the driver to turn the lights on. The driver of that vehicle then sped up and a occupant pointed a gun out of the sunroof and fired several rounds. The vehicle was described as a silver Ford sport utility vehicle, possibly an Explorer or Expedition.

– Scott McCabe and Emily Babay