In early February 2026, a federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, indicted five local residents in a case involving driver's license fraud. The alleged scheme promised applicants expedited licenses without mandatory exams.
According to an official statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky, published on February 10, 2026, charges were brought under several statutes, including mail fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, honest services fraud, unlawful production of identification documents, and conspiracy to launder money (U.S. Department of Justice).
The investigation alleges that the defendants received illegal payments — ranging from $200 to $1,500 — from foreign nationals legally residing in the U.S. who applied for driver's licenses in Kentucky. They were promised "expedited" processing without mandatory tests.
The indictment claims that some participants in the scheme altered data in state databases to bypass mandatory procedure steps. As a result, applicants allegedly received invalid driver's licenses.
U.S. Attorney Kyle Bamgarner stated on February 4, 2026:
Будьте в курсі новин галузі
Підпишіться на нашу розсилку та отримуйте останні новини галузі вантажних перевезень, оновлення регуляцій та поради щодо кар'єри на вашу електронну пошту.
Ми поважаємо вашу конфіденційність. Відписатися можна в будь-який час.
"This indictment is the result of an investigation into a scheme where Kentucky Transportation Cabinet employees and others illegally circumvented the established driver's license issuance process, resulting in the issuance of invalid licenses to foreign nationals legally in the country who did not demonstrate their qualifications to operate vehicles."
He also emphasized that proper vetting of driver's license applicants is essential for road safety and the legitimacy of government documents.
Charges were brought against five Louisville residents aged 27 to 41. They are accused of:
- 14 counts of mail fraud
- conspiracy to commit mail fraud
- 14 counts of honest services fraud
- conspiracy to launder money
- 14 counts of unlawful production of identification documents
Several defendants appeared before a federal magistrate judge on February 9, 2026.
If convicted on each count of mail fraud, honest services fraud, and money laundering, the maximum penalty could be up to 20 years in prison. For unlawful production of identification documents — up to 15 years.
The final sentence will be determined by a federal judge considering sentencing guidelines and other factors. The U.S. federal system does not provide for parole.
Regional media, including WKU Public Radio, report that the investigation affected the operations of two regional driver's license offices. Kentucky authorities stated that nearly two thousand issued documents were annulled after the violations were discovered.
It is emphasized that the individuals involved were legally residing in the U.S., not illegal immigrants.
