Three Miami-Dade Employees Accused of CDL Fraud Scheme After Two Failed Required Tests

Two Miami-Dade County employees who failed the examinations required to obtain commercial driver’s licenses allegedly paid another county worker to help them bypass the testing process, according to the county’s Office of the Inspector General.

Matthew Howard Jr., 35, and Keith Garrod Jones, 36, were employed by the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department. Investigators allege they paid Vanessa Erika Roberts, 34, who worked for the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office, to process their applications under a category for which neither man qualified.

All three have been arrested and face felony charges. The investigation remains active, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Applications allegedly processed as out-of-state transfers

According to investigators, Howard and Jones failed both the knowledge and skills examinations required for commercial driver’s licenses.

Rather than retaking and passing those tests, the men allegedly paid Roberts to enter their applications into the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles system as qualifying out-of-state CDL transfers.

Florida’s reciprocity process allows drivers holding certain valid commercial credentials from another state to avoid examinations they would otherwise need to complete in Florida. Investigators said Howard and Jones did not meet the requirements for that exemption.

The arrests followed a joint investigation by the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office, the county Office of the Inspector General, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.

Felony charges filed against all three

Howard and Jones have each been charged with official misconduct, a third-degree felony, and unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior, a second-degree felony.

Roberts faces two counts of official misconduct and two counts of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior. She is no longer employed by the Tax Collector’s Office.

Miami-Dade Corrections records listed a $12,500 bond and showed that bond had been submitted. The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that Howard, Jones and Roberts had each been held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on that amount.

The Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office represented Jones and declined to comment, according to the newspaper. Attorneys had not yet been listed for Howard or Roberts at the time of that report.

Officials warn of public-safety risks

Miami-Dade Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez said CDL requirements are intended to verify that drivers can safely operate large commercial vehicles.

“Bypassing those safeguards undermines the licensing process and puts everyone on our roads at risk,” Fernandez said.

The Tax Collector’s Office is now examining related records and transactions. Officials said further administrative or corrective measures will be taken if the review finds they are warranted.

The office has not announced the discovery of any additional licenses believed to have been improperly issued. The investigation remains ongoing.