In January 2026, a federal court found a Massachusetts resident guilty of organizing a bribery scheme related to the Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) exam. According to prosecutors, the defendant received $3,000 for transmitting correct answers during the exam via a hidden Bluetooth device.
According to the case materials, the scheme was implemented in late 2021 at one of the RMV offices in Massachusetts:
- On October 18, 2021, the defendant offered help in passing the CLP exam for money
- On December 10, 2021, he gave instructions on using a Bluetooth device hidden in the ear and disguised as exam headphones
- On December 22, 2021, the exam was passed with remote real-time answer transmission; on the same day, $3,000 was transferred to the defendant's bank account
As it turned out later, the "candidate" was an undercover law enforcement officer.
In April 2024, the man was officially charged, and on January 15, 2026, the US Department of Justice announced a guilty verdict. The court found him guilty under the charge of "unlawful production of an identification document."
This crime is classified under federal law 18 U.S.C. § 1028, which provides for a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and subsequent supervision after release. The text and explanations of the law are available in the legal database of Cornell Law School: 18 U.S.C. § 1028 — Fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents.
The US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, announcing the verdict on January 15, 2026, emphasized that such schemes undermine trust in the commercial driver licensing system and directly affect road safety issues. In the official statement, the case is described as an example of "unlawful production of an identification document" committed using covert communication technologies.
CDL and CLP exams are a key safety filter in freight transportation. Attempts to bypass them create a risk of drivers without the necessary knowledge and skills appearing on the roads.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regularly warns about fraud related to driver's licenses and exams and urges reporting such schemes through official channels: FMCSA Fraud Alerts.
Sentencing in this case is scheduled for May 7, 2026. The court will consider federal sentencing guidelines, the nature of the crime, and its potential impact on public safety.
This case shows that even isolated attempts to "buy" a CDL or CLP are within the federal authorities' purview and can lead to serious criminal consequences.