Two former California DMV workers have been sentenced to prison in two separate CDL fraud schemes. Both received sentences of over 30 months in prison for their crimes.
Kari Scattaglia worked at the Arleta, California DMV and the Granada Hills Drivers’ License Processing Center as a management official and licensing registration examiner. She was caught up as part of a federal investigation into two Southern California trucking schools. The schools passed bribes to Scattaglia to have her illegally enter passing scores for the written exam for students, even when they hadn’t even taken the exam. According to the Justice Department, Scattaglia caused at least 68 fraudulent CDLs and permits to be issued.
Scattaglia has been sentenced to 32 months in prison as well as two years of supervised release. She will also need to pay a $100 special assessment fee.
In a separate case, a former DMV employee named Donald Freeman was also bribed to change DMV records to show a passing grade for the written exam portion of the CDL test. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and will pay a $100 fee. In this case, it is not known how many fraudulent CDLs were issued.
Source: overdrive, DOJ, sacbee, truckersreport
Claude Marc says
I knew this was going on but I expected it to surface first in the border states of Texas,Arizona, and Fla. Their must be thousands of fraudulent CDLs out there. The DOT is worthless on enforcement..
Bessie Jones says
There are many, I got my CDL the legal way, this is something the DMV needs to stay on top of, a lot of illegal immigrants are getting CDL the wrong way, please keep them from CDL 😩 oh I live in Florida,
CAnn Kariores says
I don’t believe these illegal immigrant descendants were innocent. lol.
Haba says
Jones, it’s stereotyping
Jeff Burgess says
No wonder…so many idiot drivers in semi’s out on the roads these days…not just Swifty’s anymore!!
Kevin Wilkerson says
And $100 fee. lol
Swizz says
Untold amount of $$$ in bribes > 32/37 months in jail, supervised released and $100 fine.
harriet ann jones says
I’ve been a driver for 37 yrs. I had cancer for 4 yrs n couldn’t renew my cdl at that time.. I’m better now I’ve passed the written my beef is why do we have to know every part of the dang truck to get CDL.. We’re not mechanics..if we get stopped what they want us to point out slack adjuster.. This is a bunch of B S!!!!
Sara says
Well no they actually want you to point out that flat tire someone just gave you with a nail in a board and a hammer to drive it in. Guess you have a flat now
Nate Dawson says
Well now we know why some many Cdl drivers are well complete morons on the road.
And it is compelling to see that many, many of these “drivers” are from california…
Juan Torres says
You are full of it. I could out drive you any day !
Punnisher says
And I suppose the solicitor for those passing grades got away Scott free ?? Solicitation of a criminal act is a crime in itself so the truck driver training school Execs taking all those poor saps money should go to jail as well .
Bigbadassbob says
You just about have to be slow or brain dead to not be able to pass the written exams 😂
Albert Ferguson says
Or you can’t read, write, or speak the local lingo very well… And your in a street gang with a shot-caller with the balls to bribe an over-leveraged minor employee down at the DMV!
Jessie says
Hahahahaha, and for so many years we’ve been bitching at dot and state cops cuz they dont even stop foreign drivers.
But American drivers are fair game at any time…what a joke this industry has become.
Kevin says
Seems to me that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Rawdog says
These idiots can’t even pass the written part??? Lol
matt tedesco says
Thst. Was just a. Slap on the. Wrist. For those. Dmv. Employees..! They should of hav. Suspended their. License to operate any motor – vechicle… See howd theyd like a. Dose of their. Medicine..!
Major ahole says
Slow the trucks down to minimum speed limits in all truck lanes for 3 days. Watch the panic . Every news crew in the country will be in the truck stops. Freight rates are down 25/30% freight volume down 26% and they are crying driver shortage. BS . Electronic logs , ok now no reason for the 70 hr rule keep 11/14 10hr break. Do away with 70hr rule and 34 restart. No need for more dumb a— drivers
Larry says
I got past easy. Aced the written easy. Talking about the road test we talked last driving I had done. Strait truck, and semi driving legally without CDL. (Farm use for yrs, driving with a supervisor observing to New York, back). (Ok he slept most of the time)
He said ” you passed your road test”
So I did road test in basement of court house
Sara says
But these dmv people are the ones that threaten us with points and deny us of anything if they feel like it. Their just crooks who used our right to vote twice and abuse the second vote for who ever they wanted in election
Sara says
Oh how are you doing in prison Robert Churchin for selling All those cdls to people in Monterey county. They never even knew the test nor drove a truck. Many other DMV employees followed in your foot steps. They too are enjoying their own cubical.
bob suth says
It makes no difference. Like me paying a flight school for IFR and not being able to fly instrument. No experience, no job – if you can’t drive, good luck passing the company’s road test 🙂 Just heard that these days a driver can take a road test on an automatic and be restricted to just an automatic (transmission). Hard to believe a “trucker” who can’t drive a stick shift. Never had automatics when I got my Class 1 40 years ago. World has gone p***y.
DreamTeam says
I can’t believe the racial rhetoric! The article doesn’t identify race…..
Shame on you!
Becky says
Who would not want to learn how to drive a truck before getting in a truck and putting their life and others in danger, how ignorant can you be!!!!
Gurbachan Singh says
Most of the CDLs are not fake, but the way the applicant appeared in the written test is not a genuine one. Most of the applicant memorized the answers like telephone numbers. They memorized only one set of papers, they got 100/100 if the same question paper was there, if not, the second time, even if not the second time, then the third time will be the same paper as memorized. Then there is a surety of 100/100. I think, the best way is to change the serial numbers , may be the same questions. Most of the drivers live in one State, but they have CDL from the other State. I think, the highway police of all the States should talk to the drivers just to judge if they can speak and understand English. The police should ask them general questions to find out the truth.
Robert c ward says
I’m from California this is the second time this has happened California is known to be the toughest state to get a cold now it’s the easiest just pay a agreed amount. There are only four DMV branches that issue cold in the LA County area I took seven written exams to get TPX endorsement under the watchful eye of test administrator the classroom was surrounded by tented windows and cameras any talking looking at your hands or wondering eyes will result in immediate FAILURE put the school out of business I wonder if it was debbie dutson
gary jenkins says
To drive a semi should know basic parts on both units I know drivers who can’t find fuel filter,
John Ruiz says
I am 58 yrs old I just renewed my C.D.L. I have been driving since 1986 it’s scary to think about what kind of people out there with a semi and a C.D.L. that they didn’t educate for and have no idea how to be safe out there. The D.M.V. has blood on there hands because of greed. We are screwed aren’t we.😠