Six people have been indicted in New Orleans for their alleged involvement in a bribery scheme that allowed drivers to obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) without completing the required training or testing. The indictment, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson on August 28, 2025, outlines a system where applicants paid to bypass federal and state regulations.
According to the indictment, Mahmoud Alhattab, a local restaurant owner, accepted payments from CDL applicants and facilitated their passage through each of the three federally mandated steps of the CDL qualification process: knowledge testing, entry-level driver training, and skills testing.
The knowledge test is a written examination administered at Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) locations and covers topics such as vehicle safety systems and emergency procedures. Entry-level driver training requires applicants to demonstrate proficiency while operating a commercial vehicle on public roads. The skills test is conducted by certified examiners and includes pre-trip inspections and safety maneuvers.
Alhattab allegedly bribed two employees at the Donaldsonville OMV office—Jenay Davis and Shakira Millien—to complete knowledge tests for applicants. The indictment claims that Davis and Millien used internet searches to find answers during these tests.
To bypass the training requirement, Alhattab is accused of bribing Christopher Bryan Burns and Jonathan Parsons, operators of truck driver training businesses. They reportedly entered false information into a federal database stating that applicants had completed required training when they had not.
Burns and Parsons also served as certified skills test examiners. According to prosecutors, they falsely reported to the State of Louisiana that certain applicants passed their skills tests despite never taking them. In some cases, Parsons allegedly paid another examiner, Marline Roberts, who then created fake score sheets to support these reports.
All six defendants face one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Alhattab and Parsons are each charged with two counts of honest services wire fraud; Burns, Davis, and Roberts each face one count. Additionally, Alhattab, Millien, and Parsons are charged with four counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds; Burns, Davis, and Roberts face one count each for this charge.
If convicted on conspiracy or wire fraud charges, defendants could face up to 20 years in prison per count. Bribery charges carry penalties of up to 10 years per count. Each count may also result in fines up to $250,000, supervised release for up to three years after imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson stated: "The indictment is merely a charge, and that each defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General. Additional assistance came from the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and Louisiana Public Safety Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon from the Public Integrity Unit is prosecuting the case.
