7 Brooklyn residents charged in DMV fraud case
Attempting to obtain commercial drivers licenses, 11 individuals, including seven Brooklyn residents, were charged in Brooklyn Federal Court with conspiracy to commit mail fraud as part of an extensive scheme to enable applicants for New York State commercial drivers licenses to cheat on required tests.
New York requires drivers of commercial vehicles, such as transport buses and large semi-trailer trucks, to obtain a commercial drivers license (CDL) issued by the state and regulated by the United States Department of Transportation. In order to obtain a CDL, an applicant must pass a series of tests—including written and audio examinations, both requiring applicants to fill out a paper answer sheet—often taken under the supervision of Department of Motor Vehicles security officers.
It is alleged that in exchange for cash, DMV security guards signaled to applicants the appropriate time to leave the DMV testing location, blank tests in hand. The applicants would then meet with the defendants who completed the CDL tests on the applicants’ behalf. The applicants would then return to the DMV testing site and submit the completed exam for grading.