Whistleblower Alleges Thousands of Fraudulent Driver's Licenses Issued in Kentucky Scheme

Louisville, KY – A former employee of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), Melissa Moorman, has publicly claimed she was fired after exposing an alleged scheme to illegally issue driver's licenses to undocumented individuals for $200 each. Moorman, who worked at the Nia Center Licensing Branch through a staffing service, asserts the illicit practice occurred "4-5 times PER DAY at multiple branches across the state," potentially leading to "THOUSANDS of invalid licenses." The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has stated that such licenses were issued "in error."

According to Moorman's account, detailed in a whistleblower lawsuit, she alerted KYTC to the scam in October 2024. She alleges that co-workers used her computer login to process these transactions, bypassing required Homeland Security background checks. Moorman was terminated in January 2025, the same day she was interviewed by detectives regarding the scheme.

The alleged operation involved individuals paying $200 "under the table" to obtain licenses without proper documentation or testing. While the KYTC confirmed an ongoing fraud investigation and two terminations, it has withheld nearly 2,300 records related to resignations, terminations, and letters sent to drivers, citing ongoing investigations with Kentucky State Police and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Under Kentucky law, non-U.S. citizens are eligible for a standard driver's license only if they provide legal presence documentation and proof of residency. Undocumented immigrants in Kentucky do not have access to a driver's license or state identification card. This legal framework underscores the illegality of the alleged scheme.

Garry Adams, Moorman's attorney, criticized the KYTC's actions, stating, "Why punish the employee who reported it? She should be the hero." He added that the situation points to a "failure to supervise these employees" and a lack of "checks and balances." WDRB is currently challenging the KYTC's refusal to release the withheld records in court, seeking transparency on the investigation's scope and accountability.