Several people, including three New York State Department of Motor Vehicles workers, are facing serious charges related to a scheme “to cheat on commercial driver’s license (CDL) exams and process permits for no-show applicants,” according to authorities.
Seven Indicted In Commercial License Cheating Scheme
On October 9, 2025, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office (NCDAO) announced a 51-count indictment related to a CDL exam cheating scheme uncovered at a Garden City Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in New York State.
The indictment charges three New York State DMV employees, the sister of one of the employees, and three CDL permit applicants, including two Town of Hempstead employees.
Former DMV Supervisor Kanaisha Middleton, 33, Motor Vehicle Representative Tawanna Whitfield, 36, Motor Vehicle Representative Satoya Mitchell, 35, and Kanaisha Middleton’s sister, Jamie Middleton, 35, face charges of:
- Impairing the Integrity of a Government Licensing Examination (a D felony)
- Corrupting the Government in the Fourth Degree (an E felony)
- Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree (a D felony)
- Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree (an E felony)
- Falsifying Business Records in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor)
Additionally, CDL permit applicants James Nurse, 42, Omesh Mohan, 42, and Rene Sarduy, 44, face charges of:
- Tampering with Public Records in the First Degree
- Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree
‘Fake Facial Hair’ Part Of Disguises Used In CDL Scheme
An investigation into the scheme began when a supervisor in the Garden City branch of the DMV reported to the New York State Inspector General’s Office that employees were processing CDL permit applications without applicants sitting for the required tests at the DMV location…