Investigations

On February 27, 2020, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Ronald E. Sherry, a physician’s assistant, pleaded guilty to false entries and obstruction related to fraudulent medical examinations of commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders. Sherry was a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)–certified medical examiner authorized to conduct physicals of CDL applicants and holders. FMCSA requires drivers engaged in interstate commerce to pass medical exams to show they are physically able to safely operate commercial motor vehicles.

 

A FMCSA review revealed that, in 2016 and 2017, Sherry was conducting CDL medical examinations at a rate that was 10 times greater than the national average. Based on court documents, between March 2018 and 2019, he made false entries on federally required FMCSA medical examination forms and transmitted those forms to the Agency. The forms indicated that he conducted CDL medical examinations in accordance with Federal regulations, when in fact he had not.

 

DOT-OIG led this joint investigation with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations and FMCSA.