'Like a spy in an espionage thriller.' 7 indicted in corruption scheme at Garden City DMV

The DA's office says the ring of employees allowed a single person wearing disguises to take the exam for 10 different applicants.

Cecilia Dowd

Oct 9, 2025, 10:06 PM

Updated 5 hr ago

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Investigators uncovered a scheme out of the Garden City DMV that posed a serious danger to Long Island streets, according to Nassau County DA Anne Donnelly.
Donnelly said men paid anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 to have their CDL test taken for them by Jamie Middleton. Authorities said she’d appear at the DMV in disguise, with a fake mustache and beard. Prosecutors said her sister, Kanaisha Middleton, was a supervisor at the Garden City DMV and took part in the scheme, which involved other DMV employees as well.
Among those who allegedly had the test taken for them is James Nurse, a Town of Hempstead sanitation worker. Unlike the others, prosecutors said Nurse took and passed the second part to obtaining a CDL license, which is a road test. Donnelly referred to Nurse as a “government employee licensed only through a lie” who was driving a “massive truck” in the streets where children play.
Kaneisha Middleton's attorney, Jacob Uriel, told News 12 in a statement:
“What this case is really about is a toxic culture inside the DMV. Disgruntled former employees of Ms. Middleton — people who once worked under her — are now pointing fingers to avoid responsibility for their own actions. Ms. Middleton left that environment long before these accusations surfaced and built a new career for herself. There’s a reason we have a presumption of innocence. Let’s wait for the final act before deciding what really happened.”
Brian Devine, director of communications for the Town of Hempstead said:
"When the Town learns of allegations of fraud on the part of a municipal employee, it takes immediate action. As such, the Town has taken proactive steps to effectuate the termination of any individuals implicated in the District Attorney's investigation. The Town continues to work together with the District Attorney to ensure that all drivers who are operating commercial vehicles in the Town of Hempstead have the proper and legitimate documentation."
Jamie Middleton’s attorney did not return calls for comment.