MINEOLA, N.Y. – A Queens-based bus company and its two owners are facing felony charges after prosecutors say they forged insurance documents to operate school buses for the Valley Stream Central High School District over a five-year period.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that Cheese Bus, Inc., along with Malik Turnage Sr., 52, and Malik Turnage Jr., 27, have been charged with four counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree and two counts of insurance fraud in the fifth degree.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty during their October 21 arraignment before Judge Michele Johnson and were released on their own recognizance pending a November 5 court appearance.
Key Points
- Cheese Bus, Inc. and its owners accused of using forged insurance documents between 2019 and 2024.
- Prosecutors say the company falsely claimed coverage from Integon National Insurance Company.
- DA Anne Donnelly called the conduct “reckless and unacceptable,” citing risk to student safety.
Prosecutors: forged certificates sent to school district
According to investigators, in October 2023 the Valley Stream Central High School District requested updated proof of liability insurance from its transportation contractors. Turnage Jr., a co-owner of Cheese Bus, allegedly emailed two forged Certificates of Insurance (COIs) to the district on November 1, 2023, claiming the company was covered by Integon National Insurance Company.
Hours later, he sent two more fabricated certificates listing the same insurer and policy number. The district later verified with the insurance carrier and its broker that no such policies existed for Cheese Bus, Inc.
Company had insurance — but not for Valley Stream contract
Prosecutors said the company did hold other valid insurance policies, but none covered its buses operating under the Valley Stream school contract. Investigators concluded that the forged documents were intended to mislead the district into believing the company was properly insured.
DA: defendants “gambled with the safety of children”
“These defendants were trusted with safely transporting young students, but they chose to allegedly cut corners and put lives at risk,” DA Donnelly said. “Operating school buses without proper insurance is not only illegal, it’s completely reckless and unacceptable.”
Case under financial crimes unit
The investigation was handled by the Major Financial Frauds Bureau, led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Taylor Cain under the supervision of Bureau Chief Maureen McCormack and Executive Assistant District Attorney Rick Whelan.
The Turnages are represented by Edward Sapone, Esq. Prosecutors emphasized that the charges are accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.