Three more sentenced in large California CDL scheme

Three more defendants in a widespread California CDL scheme case have been sentenced for their role in issuing fraudulent CDLs that involved at least 16 people.

On Aug. 1, Donald Freeman and Juan Arturo Arroyo Gomez were sentenced in a U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of California. Freeman received 37 months imprisonment and two years of supervised released. Arroyo Gomez was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and also received two years of supervised release.

Kari Scattaglia was sentenced on Aug. 8. She received 32 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release.

According to court documents, from September 2014 to April 2017 owners of truck driving schools in Southern California paid DMV employees Scattaglia and Lisa Terraciano to pass their CDL applicants without having to take the written and behind-the-wheel exams, according to court documents. The two DMV employees would access the agency’s database and alter the applicants’ records to incorrectly reflect passed examinations.

Scattaglia was a manager and licensing-registration examiner in Arleta and Granada Hills. Terraciano was a motor vehicle representative at the Winnetka office.

The owners of the truck driving schools received at least $18,600 to have DMV records altered. In multiple undercover operations, agents posing as truckers were told by the owners they could pay from $1,500 to $9,000 to obtain a Class A CDL permit or license. Scattaglia told FBI agents that she received $200 for each passed written exam and $500 for each behind-the-wheel exam. Terraciano told agents she received $100 for each written exam.

In total, Scattaglia issued at least 68 fraudulent licenses. Terraciano estimated she issued approximately 60 fraudulent licenses a month, totaling to about 148 fraudulent licenses.

Rahim Mahboob was charged in November 2017 with several counts for allegedly contacting and paying Terraciano to alter the computer records.

Ruvila Lima and Poya Khanjan also were charged in November 2017 in a separate indictment for similar charges related to the scheme. Lima was an employee at a truck driving school and solicited students to give her money in exchange for CDLs without taking the appropriate tests. Khanjan shared a bank account with Lima and also offered students CDLs without tests in exchange for money.

Freeman and Arroyo Gomez were indicted a few days prior. Freeman was a DMV employee who accessed the DMV’s database. Arroyo Gomez was the middleman between Lima or Khanhan and Freeman.

In another separate indictment, Jagpal Singh, Jagdish Singh, Tajinder Singh, Parminder Singh and Shawana Denise Harris were charged for their role in the scheme. Jagpal owned Calcutta Truck School, Jagdish owned Gobind Truck School, Tajinder owned another trucking school, Parminder worked for Calcutta Truck School, and Harris was a DMV employee.

In separate but related cases, Kulwinder Dosanjh Singh, Pavitar Dosangh Singh, Andrew Kimura and Emma Klem were all indicted on charges in July 2015 for their role in the scheme. Kulwinder Dosanjh Singh and Pavitar Dosangh Singh were the two owners of the truck driving schools. Kimura and Klem were co-conspirators at the DMV.

The following is the status of the other defendants involved in the CDL scheme:

• Jagdish Singh – case dismissed.
• Kimura – sentenced 46 months imprisonment, 24 months supervised release and ordered to pay a $7,500 fine.
• Klem – sentenced 23 months imprisonment and 36 months supervised release.
• Pavitar Singh – sentenced 10 months imprisonment and 36 months supervised release.
• Kulwinder Singh – sentenced 19 months imprisonment.
• Mahboob – sentenced 27 months imprisonment, 12 months supervised release and ordered to pay $58,500 fine.
• Terraciano – sentencing scheduled for Sept. 27.
• Lima – sentencing scheduled for Nov. 14.
• Jagpal Singh – sentencing scheduled for Nov. 15.
• Khanjan – status conference scheduled for Sept. 19.

Three defendants have decided to go to trial. Tajinder Singh, Parminder Singh and Harris have a jury trial scheduled for Oct. 15.

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Fifth of 16 defendants sentenced in California CDL scheme

Three more sentenced in large California CDL scheme
Three more defendants in a widespread CDL scheme case have been sentenced for their role in issuing fraudulent CDLs that involved at least 16 people.