breaking

Louisiana Restaurant Owner Led Scheme to Issue Fraudulent Commercial Licenses

Federal prosecutors have dismantled a Louisiana bribery operation that fraudulently issued commercial driver's licenses to at least 124 applicants between August 2020 and February 2024.

Three defendants pleaded guilty July 29 to bribery involving federally funded programs. Mahmoud Alhattab, a restaurant owner, orchestrated the scheme, charging applicants roughly $5,000 each for unearned credentials.

The operation circumvented all three mandated CDL qualification steps: knowledge testing, entry-level driver training and skills evaluation. Alhattab bribed two employees at a Donaldsonville Office of Motor Vehicles location, sending them applicant photos via text message with requested endorsements including school-bus credentials.

OMV staff entered correct answers for knowledge tests and issued commercial learner's permits based on falsified scores. Alhattab paid two truck-driver training operators to fabricate training records in federal databases. The operators falsely reported completion without providing actual instruction.