The massive commercial driver’s license (CDL) fraud in Jacksonville has been uncovered following an investigation that revealed how individuals without English proficiency obtained these licenses using hidden devices and external accomplices. The operation, described as “organized fraud” by the Florida Highway Patrol, has raised concerns about road safety and the integrity of DMV exams.
Five people were arrested in Jacksonville, including Vladislav Juraschik, who was convicted of two felonies and sentenced to eight months in prison. They used devices such as hidden phones and earpieces to receive answers during the exams, allowing individuals without adequate knowledge to obtain commercial licenses. This practice has been linked to fatal accidents, including a case where a driver, after a deadly crash, demonstrated that he could not understand traffic signs or answer basic questions in English.
Additionally, in Bay County, two employees of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) were arrested for issuing fraudulent licenses to undocumented immigrants in exchange for bribes. The investigation, which spanned at least two years, also involved intermediaries such as the company CubaMax, which specializes in immigration procedures. Authorities confiscated $120,000 in cash during the arrests.
This scandal has exposed vulnerabilities in the commercial license issuance system and has prompted calls for comprehensive reform to ensure road safety and maintain public trust in the institutions responsible for highway security.
