A former Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) worker has been sentenced to prison for his role in a fraudulent commercial drivers license (CDL) scheme.
On July 6, Alonzo Blackman, 68, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. He was also ordered to pay a $215,000 money judgment.
In February 2020, Blackman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and honest services fraud.
Authorities say that from January 2017 until June 2019, Blackman oversaw the issuance of CDLs for the Texas DPS. During that time, investigators say that he did not administer the CDL skills test but passed applicants as if they had successfully completed the test.
Authorities say that Blackman issued 215 fraudulent CDLs and was paid approximately $1,000 per CDL.
From a news release on the sentencing:
Bribes were paid to Blackman by two co-defendants, Fernando Guardado Vazquez, 43, of San Antonio, and Marino Maury Diaz-Leon, 55, a Cuban national living in San Antonio. Of the 215 fraudulent CDLs, 197 went to Cuban nationals; 11 to U.S. citizens; one to a Dominican Republic national; one to an Ethiopian national; one to an Iraqi national; one to a Puerto Rican national; one to a Ukrainian national; and two to Mexican nationals.
Codefendant Diaz-Leon also was sentenced today to 12 months and 1 day in prison. On May 26, 2021, Diaz-Leon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and honest services fraud.
Codefendant Vazquez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10, 2022. On May 9, 2022, Vazquez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud.
“This case represents an appalling breach of public trust and safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. “Our office will continue to work with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners to hold corrupt officials and those who conspire with them accountable for their criminal actions.”
The case was investigated by the The FBI and the Texas Rangers with the Texas Department of Public Safety.