A former Kentucky licensing branch clerk says co-workers ran a brazen scheme selling driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants for $200 apiece — and claims she was fired for exposing it.
Melissa Moorman alleges the operation ran four to five times a day for at least two years across multiple branches. She says when she alerted the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), she was terminated.
How the Scheme Worked
Moorman, who worked at Louisville’s Nia Center Licensing Branch through staffing contractor Quantum Solutions, said two co-workers used her computer login to issue licenses to people who couldn’t legally obtain them.
She says fake documents — including forged Social Security cards and birth certificates — were used to skip Homeland Security background checks. Recipients allegedly received licenses without ever taking required tests.
“They are brought in to me without a sign-in,” Moorman said. “You would scan their documents as usual… they looked real.”
Reporting the Fraud
In October 2024, Moorman says she and her supervisor wrote KYTC about the scheme. The two co-workers were reportedly fired in late 2024. In January 2025, a detective interviewed Moorman — and she was fired the same day.
“It was a gut punch,” Moorman said. “I did the right thing. I told the truth. I should not have been fired.”
1,546 Licenses Flagged, 2,300 Records Withheld
Documents obtained through open records requests show KYTC sent 1,546 letters warning recipients their licenses were “issued in error” and would be canceled. The agency threatened criminal charges if licenses weren’t returned.
KYTC has withheld 2,300 records tied to the case, citing ongoing investigations by Kentucky State Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. WDRB News is now challenging that refusal in court.
Political and Legal Fallout
Immigration attorney Adrienne Trivedi said such schemes exploit vulnerable people. Moorman’s attorney Garry Adams blasted the state for punishing the whistleblower instead of fixing the problem.
“It’s shocking this could go on… Why punish the employee who reported it? She should be the hero,” Adams said.
Gov. Andy Beshear acknowledged a fraud investigation in April but claimed he wasn’t “aware” if it involved immigration — despite Moorman’s October letter, media inquiries, and her April lawsuit. The timeline raises questions about what Beshear knew and when.
Broader Context
The revelations come as illegal immigration remains a flashpoint nationally. The Trump administration pursued aggressive enforcement and deportations to curb such abuses.
Moorman says her only goal now is to get her job back. “I was angry, hurt and depressed,” she said. “I did the right thing.”
