MINEOLA, N.Y. – A 51-count indictment has rocked a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles branch in Garden City, where three employees, including a former supervisor, and several accomplices allegedly ran a scheme allowing applicants to skip commercial driver’s license exams and still walk away with permits.
Authorities say the fraudulent operation spanned months, implicating DMV insiders, relatives, and even Town of Hempstead workers.
Prosecutors accuse the group of tampering with public records, falsifying business documents, and corrupting government processes to hand out CDL permits to unqualified drivers.
According to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly, the alleged scam posed a serious safety risk to drivers across Long Island, with one permit holder later operating heavy sanitation trucks on public roads.
DMV employees at center of the scheme
The indictment names former DMV supervisor Kanaisha Middleton, 33; Motor Vehicle Representatives Tawanna Whitfield, 36, and Satoya Mitchell, 35; and Middleton’s sister, Jamie Middleton, 35. They face charges including Impairing the Integrity of a Government Licensing Examination, Corrupting the Government in the Fourth Degree, and multiple counts of Falsifying and Tampering with Records.
Investigators say Jamie Middleton disguised herself as different CDL applicants—using baggy clothing, construction jackets, and fake facial hair—to enter the testing room and take computer exams for no-show applicants.
Fake tests, real licenses
Between March and September 2023, surveillance footage allegedly captured Middleton entering the Garden City testing area on six occasions, escorted by Whitfield and Mitchell, despite clear mismatches between her appearance and applicant IDs. On one occasion, she allegedly completed two separate CDL exams for Town of Hempstead workers within minutes.
Authorities say at least one of those workers, James Nurse, later received a full CDL license and drove sanitation trucks for the town. Two others, Omesh Mohan and Rene Sarduy, allegedly obtained interim permits through the same ruse.
Investigators uncover breach of public trust
DA Donnelly called the scheme “an organized breach of public trust,” emphasizing that the accused “sold out their integrity and the safety of others.” Inspector General Lucy Lang echoed that sentiment, describing the case as “the second corruption scandal involving DMV employees uncovered this year.”
The investigation began after a DMV supervisor reported suspicious processing of CDL applications for candidates who never appeared for their required exams. Surveillance and internal records confirmed irregularities, leading to coordinated arrests earlier this month.
Court proceedings and potential penalties
The defendants, including the three DMV workers and four residents, have all been arraigned and released on their own recognizance pending court dates in November. If convicted, each faces up to seven years in prison.
The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office credited the New York State Inspector General and the DMV for their cooperation in exposing the operation.