NYC DMV Workers, Driving School Indicted in Large Driver’s License Fraud Scheme

A major bribery and fraud scheme involving the issuance of hundreds, possibly thousands, of driver’s licenses to unqualified individuals has been uncovered in New York City, primarily involving a Queens driving school and several Staten Island DMV employees. The T&E Driving School charged between $1,600 and $2,000 to Chinese immigrants, many of whom did not speak English or were not U.S. citizens, using social media to specifically target this community. DMV examiners accepted cash bribes to falsify road test results or bypass the tests altogether, with imposters sometimes taking tests on behalf of unqualified applicants. The investigation, dubbed Operation Road Test, used undercover officers and surveillance cameras to gather evidence, leading to multiple arrests and a 139-count indictment. Officials, including Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, emphasized that this scheme threatens public safety by allowing unqualified drivers on the road and undermines the integrity of government institutions. The DMV has suspended involved employees and is revoking licenses issued through the scheme, implementing changes to prevent future occurrences.