Summary

On June 17, 2010, in U.S. District Court, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Harold G. Stewart was sentenced to serve five years probation, 25 hours of community service, was assessed a $500 fine and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $7,316.03 to the State of Louisiana, Department of Public Safety, for expenses the State incurred to recall and re-test the drivers who obtained commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) through Stewart.  Stewart previously pled guilty to making a false statement for his role in the falsification of 250 (out of 320) CDL skills tests he conducted.  Stewart, a third party examiner for Stewart Auto Sales & Salvage, Zwolle, LA, was authorized by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, Office Motor Vehicles (LADPS-OMV) to administer CDL skills tests for CDL driver candidates.

This investigation began following a LADPS-OMV compliance review wherein it was discovered that Stewart tested a large number of CDL candidates with no failure ratings, which was a fraud indicator.  During OIG's interview of Stewart, he admitted to falsifying the skills test for 250 CDL candidates for which he was paid approximately $200 per test.  The LADPS-OMV recalled and retested all 320 CDL drivers.

This investigation was conducted with significant assistance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Southern Service Center, the FMCSA Louisiana Divisional Office, and the LADPS-OMV.