Disguised 'Trucker' and DMV Staff Busted in Commercial License Cheating Ring

Disguised 'Trucker' and DMV Staff Busted in Commercial License Cheating Ring

Seven Individuals Indicted in 51-Count Fraud Scheme at Garden City DMV

A major commercial driver's license (CDL) cheating scheme has been uncovered at the Garden City Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on Long Island, leading to a 51-count felony indictment against seven people, including three DMV employees. The alleged operation involved applicants paying up to $3,000 to have a surrogate take the written permit test for them, a "dangerous threat to public safety," according to authorities.
The scheme was reportedly broken open by an eagle-eyed DMV worker who noticed a woman attempting to take an exam intended for a male applicant. The subsequent investigation revealed that Jamie Middleton, 35, was the primary test-taker, allegedly disguising herself with baggy clothes, face masks, construction jackets, and even a fake beard and mustache to impersonate male applicants. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Middleton taking two different exams only five minutes apart on one occasion.

DMV Employees Allegedly Facilitated Fraud

Prosecutors allege that three DMV employees facilitated the fraud:

Kanaisha Middleton, 33, a DMV supervisor and Jamie Middleton's sister, is accused of helping to orchestrate the scheme.

Satoya Mitchell and Tawanna Whitfield, Motor Vehicle representatives, allegedly received a cut of the money to usher Jamie Middleton into the testing area despite the clear discrepancies in her appearance compared to the ID photos. Authorities noted that even with disguises, one telltale sign was the phony test-taker's long fingernails.

The indictment states that Jamie Middleton took at least nine CDL exams for seven clients between March and September 2023, passing the test eight times.
Applicants Charged

Three men who allegedly paid for the service were also charged:
James Nurse, a Town of Hempstead sanitation worker.
Rene Sarduy, a Town of Hempstead Highway Department worker.
Omesh Mohan, an aspiring truck driver.

According to prosecutors, these applicants received interim CDL permits after Middleton passed the written test for them. While the permits are temporary, allowing the holder to drive with a qualified CDL driver and requiring a road test for a full license, the system failure placed unqualified drivers on the road. One applicant, James Nurse, was able to pass his road test and subsequently drove recycling trucks for the Town of Hempstead for over a year. The Town of Hempstead has since moved to fire any employees implicated in the investigation.
All seven defendants have been arraigned on multiple felony counts, including Impairing the Integrity of a Government Licensing Examination, Corrupting the Government, and Falsifying Business Records. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.

(By our staff reporter) Garden City, NY –

Picture courtesy: AI Generated (Disclaimer: AI has been used to assist with this article)