Investigations

On January 2, 2018, Orlinte Cruz, owner of Cruz and Sons Transportation, LLC, and UGMA Logistics, Inc., Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty to honest services wire fraud in U.S. District Court, Dallas. The plea was the result of an information filed on November 16, 2017.

 

The information alleged Cruz and two Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers concealed material information concerning Level 1 commercial motor vehicle inspections of Cruz’ trucks. DPS performs Level 1 inspections to ensure commercial vehicles are safe for highway travel. The DPS inspection reports are then electronically transmitted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) database so the trucks can receive Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance decals. According to the information, between July 2014 and September 2015, Cruz paid a DPS trooper $4,000 to receive favorable Level 1 safety inspections, and the trooper electronically submitted 39 false truck inspections reports to the FMCSA database.

 

DOT-OIG conducted this investigation with assistance from the FBI, Texas DPS Texas Rangers Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.