Some New York City drivers may be on the road without ever taking a road test, according to Staten Island prosecutors, who say a massive fraud scheme involving DMV employees and a Queens driving school allowed hundreds—possibly thousands—of unqualified individuals to obtain driver’s licenses.
On Tuesday, the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office, along with the New York State Inspector General, announced the results of “Operation Road Test,” a sweeping investigation uncovering alleged corruption within the Department of Motor Vehicles and T&E Driving School in Flushing, Queens.
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“Too many people have gotten drivers’ licenses because of corruption, because of theft,” said Richmond County DA Michael McMahon. “Countless individuals are driving on our roads without demonstrating the skills necessary to do it safely.”
How the Scheme Worked
According to prosecutors, customers paid up to $2,000 to T&E Driving School to secure a license without ever stepping into a DMV vehicle. The driving school then conspired with three Staten Island DMV employees to schedule road tests. Instead of the actual applicants, imposters—a man or a woman—would show up and take the test on their behalf.
The DMV employees allegedly accepted cash bribes to approve the falsified test results.
“T&E used social media and strategic advertising to exploit members of the Chinese community and get licenses regardless of immigration status, language and ability to operate a vehicle,” said George Ioannidis of Homeland Security Investigations.
Charges and Fallout
Authorities have charged three DMV employees and four individuals connected to T&E Driving School with:
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Falsifying business records
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Tampering with public records
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Identity theft
All involved DMV employees have since been suspended by the agency.
Widening Investigation
The fraud’s full scope is still unclear. Investigators say they are now working with the DMV to identify and locate hundreds of individuals who may have received licenses without undergoing a legitimate road test.
“We think this is just the tip of the iceberg, to put it simply,” McMahon said.
As the investigation expands, law enforcement officials are urging New Yorkers to remain vigilant and expect more arrests as they uncover how deep the scheme goes.
