USAO, Eastern District of New York - Press Release

Summary

On July 17, 2015, after a three-day trial, a federal jury found Joachim Pierre, Luc Desmangles, Tanael Daniel, Dale Harper, and Beayaeh Kamara guilty in U.S. District Court, Brooklyn, New York, related to cheating on Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) tests.

On October 24, 2013, the above five defendants, along with six others, were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud and unlawful production of identification documents in connection with a widespread fraudulent CDL test-taking scheme.  The investigation revealed that fraudulent CDL test-taking activities had taken place at five New York State, Department of Motor Vehicle (NYS DMV) test centers in the New York City area. Surveillance operations, including use of remote observation posts and pole-cams, identified these individuals participating in the fraud scheme, including NYS DMV security personnel, an external test-taker, facilitators, "runners", and lookouts. 

Conspiring CDL applicants paid facilitators between $1,800-$2,500 in return for CDL exam answers and escort assistance through the DMV processes. Fraud schemes included the use of: pencils with encoded miniaturized test answers; a Bluetooth headset as a communication device to relay CDL test answers; and an external test-taker positioned nearby to take the exams. Undercover law enforcement personnel deployed as CDL applicants met with key targets on multiple occasions at various DMV centers. In many instances the in-person meetings included payment of "fees" to facilitators and were audio recorded by law enforcement personnel. 

The other six defendants have all pleaded guilty in this case.

We are conducting this investigation with the assistance from Department of Homeland Security, New York Police Department, NYC DMV Investigations, NYS-Attorney General's Office, and NYS-OIG