Several employees at New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles have been accused of running a cheating scheme that allowed unqualified applicants to obtain commercial driver’s license (CDL) permits without taking the tests themselves.
The Cheating Scheme
According to News Nation, Jamie Middleton allegedly disguised herself as a man to take CDL exams for other applicants between March 2023 and September 2023. Her sister, Kanaisha Middleton, a former DMV supervisor in Garden City, Long Island, was also implicated.
Investigators say the group charged applicants between $1,500 and $3,000 per test, allowing them to pass the CDL permit exam illegally. Jamie reportedly took nine tests and failed only once.
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Disguises And Discovery
District Attorney Anne Donnelly said surveillance footage showed Jamie wearing long, manicured nails while using disguises like fake mustaches, beards, and masks. One DMV supervisor reported noticing a woman taking a test registered under a man’s name on June 9, 2023.
Authorities believe the scheme helped multiple unqualified drivers gain commercial driving privileges.
The Indictment
Along with the Middleton sisters, other defendants include DMV employees Satoya Mitchell and Tawana Whitfield, Town of Hempstead workers James Nurse and Rene Sarduy, and CDL applicant Omesh Mohan.
Prosecutors have issued a 51-count indictment, and each defendant faces charges including:
- Government corruption
- Tampering with public records
- Falsifying business records
- Impairing the integrity of government licensing examinations
If convicted, each faces a sentence of two to seven years in prison.