FRAUDULENT COMMERCIAL DRIVERS' LICENSING ALLEGED

USDOT Office of the Inspector General
December 22, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 22, 1998
Contact: Jeff Nelligan
Telephone: (202) 366-6312
OIG 40-98

A Neshoba County, MS man has been indicted by a Federal grand jury in Jackson, MS in connection with a scheme to fraudulently test applicants for commercial drivers' licenses, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General announced today.

Cecil Ray Price was indicted December 16 on two counts of knowingly and willfully making false statements, both felony charges. The U.S. attorney's office alleges that Price, under contract with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to administer such tests, represented that two people taking the commercial-licensure tests had passed them, when they had not taken the tests. Testing standards are set by the U.S. Department of Transportation, to promote safety on the highways.

DOT's Office of Inspector General jointly investigated the case with the Mississippi Highway Patrol.