⏱ 2 min read
Over 100 people fraudulently obtained commercial driver’s licenses in a bribery scheme led by Mahmoud Alhattab, a local restaurant owner, in Louisiana. The scheme, which involved bribing employees of a Donaldsonville OMV office, allowed applicants to bypass federally-mandated steps of the CDL qualification process, including knowledge testing, entry-level driver training, and skills testing. On July 29, 2026, Alhattab, along with Jonathan Parsons and Marline Roberts, pleaded guilty to one count of Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds.
Alhattab admitted to providing an OMV employee with a photograph of the applicant’s driver’s license and desired endorsements, and the employee would then enter correct knowledge test answers for the applicant. Alhattab would then bring the applicant to the Donaldsonville OMV office, where the OMV employee would confer a commercial learner’s permit upon the applicant based on the falsified knowledge test scores. Alhattab paid the OMV employees in cash and also provided them with meals.
The scheme allowed applicants to pay Alhattab approximately $5,000 to receive unearned CDLs, bypassing the necessary steps to obtain a legitimate license. The guilty pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle, who oversaw the case.
The bribery scheme has significant implications for public safety, as it allowed unqualified drivers to operate commercial vehicles on the roads. The investigation and prosecution of the case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to preventing corruption and ensuring the integrity of the CDL process.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Public Corruption
- Defendant: Louisiana
- Location: LA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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