Five Defendants Convicted Of Conspiring To Obtain Commercial Driver’s Licenses From The Department Of Motor Vehicles Through Fraud And Bribes

Earlier today, after a three-day trial, a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, returned guilty verdicts against Dale Harper, Joachim Pierre Louis, Luc Desmangles, Beayeah Kamara, and Tanael Daniel for their participation in a scheme to enable applicants for commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to cheat on required tests for those licenses in exchange for money.  When sentenced by United States District Judge Raymond J. Dearie, the defendants each face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

The guilty verdicts were announced by Kelly T. Currie, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott,  Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Douglas Shoemaker, Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Regional Special Agent-in-Charge.

The evidence at trial demonstrated that drivers of certain commercial vehicles, such as school buses, tractor trailers, vehicles transporting hazardous waste, ambulettes, and heavy transportation trucks, must possess a CDL, which is issued by the DMV, pursuant to the regulations set forth by the United States Department of Transportation.  Before obtaining a CDL, all applicants must pass tests covering various subjects related to safely driving such large vehicles.  The defendants Daniel, Harper, Pierre Louis, and Desmangles brought CDL applicants to the DMV office on Greenwich Street in Manhattan.  After applicants entered the testing area, the defendant Kamara, who was employed as a security guard, signaled to the applicants to leave the testing area with their answer sheets.  Upon leaving the testing area, those applicants were met by Daniel, Pierre Louis, and Desmangles, who took the exam to be completed by another co-conspirator, Marie Daniel, outside the DMV office.[1]  The test was then returned to the applicant, who re-entered the DMV office and submitted the exam for grading.  Kamara received cash bribes for his role in the scheme.  The applicants were charged approximately $1,400 to $2,500 for the defendants’ assistance with cheating on the CDL exam.  The evidence further showed that the defendants enabled over 40 people to fraudulently obtain or attempt to obtain CDLs, during the period April 1, 2013 through September 25, 2013.

“Today’s verdict demonstrates our commitment to aggressively prosecute and investigate anyone who compromises public safety,” stated Acting United States Attorney Currie.  “The greed of these defendants jeopardized passengers and pedestrians on our roads.  Together with our law enforcement partners, we will bring to justice those who endanger the public by committing such crimes.”

“These individuals chose corruption and greed over the safety of the general public,” said Inspector General Leahy Scott.  “These convictions send a message to those who put innocent people at risk as a result of their criminal acts … they will be investigated and prosecuted.  I will use the full force of my office to relentlessly pursue anyone who violates the public trust and resorts to criminal measures to circumvent laws intended to ensure that those who are licensed by the State of New York are properly qualified to drive on our highways.”

“These individuals convicted today jeopardized public safety by using fraudulent means to obtain commercial driver’s licenses that would have given the defendants the ability to drive school buses and other large vehicles,” said HSI New York Special Agent-in-Charge Parmer. “HSI will work with our law enforcement partners and use every tool at our disposal to arrest those who threaten public safety of any variety."

“As evidenced by the guilty verdicts handed down against Dale Harper, Joachim Pierre Louis, Luc Desmangles, Beayeah Kamara, and Tanael Daniel, ensuring safety on the Nation’s roadways  remains a high priority for both the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Department of Transportation,” said DOT OIG Regional Special Agent-in-Charge Shoemaker.  “Working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial colleagues, we will continue our vigorous efforts to prevent, detect, and prosecute violations of laws and regulations, CDL and otherwise, designed to ensure the public’s safety.”

Mr. Currie expressed his grateful appreciation to the Office’s partners in the investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), and the Office of the New York State Inspector General (NYS-OIG).  In addition, Mr. Currie thanked the New York State Attorney General’s Office; the New York City Police Department, Internal Affairs Bureau; New York County District Attorney’s Office; and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for their cooperation and assistance in the investigation.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Public Integrity Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Warren and Lauren Howard Elbert are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendants:

DALE HARPER
Age: 49
Residence: Bronx, New York

JOACHIM PIERRE LOUIS
Age: 33
Residence: Brooklyn, New York

LUC DESMANGLES
Age: 28
Residence: Brooklyn, New York

BEAYEAH KARMARA
Age: 26
Residence: Staten Island, New York

TANAEL DANIEL
Age: 37
Residence: Brooklyn, New York