New York DMV Supervisor Gets Jail Time in CDL Exam Fraud Case

A former New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) supervisor has been sentenced to one year in jail for organizing a CDL exam fraud scheme that allowed applicants to obtain commercial learner’s permits without taking the required tests.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced the sentence on October 28, 2026. The case involved DMV employees, a family member of the former supervisor, and applicants who received permits through fraudulent testing.

Investigators found that one applicant later obtained a full commercial driver’s license (CDL) and used it to operate municipal recycling trucks. The case raises concerns about the safeguards used to verify driver qualifications before commercial licenses are issued.

Former DMV Supervisor Sentenced to One Year in Jail

Kanaisha Middleton, 34, previously worked as a supervisor at the Garden City DMV office in Nassau County, New York.

On May 4, 2026, Middleton pleaded guilty to three charges:

• Corrupting the Government in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony.
• Impairing the Integrity of a Licensing Examination, a Class D felony.
• Official Misconduct, a Class A misdemeanor.

She received a one-year jail sentence on October 28 before Judge Robert Schwartz. According to prosecutors, Middleton used her position to coordinate a scheme that allowed individuals to bypass the knowledge exams required for commercial learner’s permits.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office said the scheme involved Middleton’s sister and several DMV employees who helped process applications for people who were not present to take their exams.

How the CDL Exam Fraud Scheme Worked

According to the investigation, the fraudulent activity occurred between March and September 2023 at the Garden City DMV branch. Under normal procedures, CDL permit applicants must provide identification and meet applicable eligibility requirements.

DMV employees are responsible for checking an applicant’s identity against agency records before assigning a computer station for the required knowledge exam. However, prosecutors found that Middleton arranged for her sister, Jamie Middleton, to enter the testing area while pretending to be different CDL applicants.

Jamie Middleton wore disguises that included baggy clothing, face masks, construction jackets, and fake facial hair. Investigators said DMV employees allowed her to enter the testing room even though her appearance did not match the identification records of the applicants she was impersonating.

The scheme allowed her to complete CDL knowledge exams for people who were not actually present. On May 23, 2023, she took two exams less than five minutes apart while wearing the same clothing. The applicants involved later visited separate DMV locations to submit paperwork and obtain their interim permits.

Eight CDL Exams Passed Through Fraudulent Testing

Investigators determined that Jamie Middleton took nine CDL exams during the scheme. She passed eight of those exams on behalf of seven applicants. Six of the seven applicants did not receive full commercial driver’s licenses.

Obtaining a commercial learner’s permit is only one step toward earning a CDL. Applicants must also meet additional requirements, including passing the applicable road skills test.

According to prosecutors, one applicant who received a permit through the scheme later failed the required CDL road test and never received a full commercial license. However, another applicant successfully obtained a CDL after the fraudulent knowledge exam.

Municipal Employee Used Fraudulently Obtained CDL

One of the defendants, James Nurse, worked for the Town of Hempstead Sanitation Department. According to the district attorney’s office, Jamie Middleton took a CDL exam on Nurse’s behalf on August 14, 2023.

Two days later, Nurse obtained an interim permit at the Massapequa DMV office. He subsequently received a full CDL on September 28, 2023. Investigators found that Nurse later used the license, obtained through the fraudulent testing process, to operate recycling trucks for the town’s sanitation department.

Nurse pleaded guilty on March 13, 2026, to Falsifying Business Records in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor. He was sentenced on May 8 to three years of probation. The district attorney’s announcement did not specify how long Nurse operated commercial vehicles using the license or whether the credential was subsequently revoked.

Other Defendants Receive Jail Time and Probation

Several other people involved in the CDL exam fraud case have also pleaded guilty and received sentences. Jamie Middleton, 36, pleaded guilty on May 4, 2026, to Corrupting the Government in the Fourth Degree and eight counts of Impairing the Integrity of a Licensing Examination. She was sentenced on July 7 to five months in jail and five years of probation.

Other defendants received the following sentences:

• Satoya Mitchell, 35: Four years of probation after pleading guilty to offenses involving licensing examinations, public records, and official misconduct.
• James Nurse, 43: Three years of probation after pleading guilty to falsifying business records.
• Rene Sarduy, 45: Three years of probation after pleading guilty to falsifying business records.
• Omesh Mohan, 43: Three years of probation after pleading guilty to falsifying business records.

Another defendant, Tawanna Whitfield, 36, pleaded guilty on January 22, 2026. Her sentencing is scheduled for November 23, 2026.

Investigation Began With a DMV Employee’s Report

Investigation began after a supervisor at the Garden City DMV office reported suspected irregularities to the New York State Inspector General’s Office. The employee raised concerns that CDL permit applications were being processed even though the applicants had not taken the required examinations.

The Inspector General’s Office investigated the allegations in cooperation with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. 

New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang said public employees responsible for protecting road safety must follow the same rules they are expected to enforce. The case ultimately resulted in guilty pleas and criminal sentences for several people involved in the testing scheme.

CDL Exam Fraud Raises Commercial Driver Safety Concerns

Commercial driver licensing requirements are designed to verify that applicants have the knowledge and skills needed to operate large commercial vehicles safely. Knowledge exams cover important subjects, including vehicle inspections, safe driving practices, and other rules applicable to commercial vehicles.

When applicants bypass these examinations, licensing agencies lose an important way to verify that drivers understand those requirements. The Nassau County case demonstrates how failures in identity verification and employee oversight can undermine the commercial licensing process.

It also shows that fraudulent testing can have consequences beyond the issuance of learner’s permits. In this case, one applicant later obtained a full CDL and operated commercial vehicles for a municipal sanitation department. The October 28 sentencing marks another step in the prosecution of the scheme. With one defendant still awaiting sentencing in November, the case has not yet reached its final conclusion.