Driving school owner convicted of CDL fraud

May 1, 2004
Thomas R Duke, owner of Macon GA-based TTT Truck Driver's School Inc, has been convicted of fraud charges after a weeklong trial in Federal District Court

Thomas R Duke, owner of Macon GA-based TTT Truck Driver's School Inc, has been convicted of fraud charges after a weeklong trial in Federal District Court in Macon.

Duke and TTT each were convicted of conspiracy, multiple counts of making false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and multiple counts of wire fraud.

Evidence showed that Duke and the school conspired with Terence E Haley to falsify the skills tests of 623 TTT students. Fraudulent skills test forms were then submitted by the students to the state of Georgia to obtain commercial driver licenses to which the students were not entitled. Evidence also showed that Duke and TTT committed fraud related to student loans obtained for TTT students. Haley had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy, testified at the trial of this matter, and is awaiting sentencing.

Duke faces a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each of the 40 counts of conviction.