shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » Three Sentenced, Two More Plead Guilty in USCG Exam-Fixing Scheme

Three Sentenced, Two More Plead Guilty in USCG Exam-Fixing Scheme

by Joshua
April 26, 2021
in Maritime Education

Additional defendants are continuing to plead guilty while the first of the defendants have now been sentenced in a test score-fixing scheme at a United States Coast Guard exam center. Since filing an indictment in November 2020, 21 defendants have been convicted in the case brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

The case centers around Coast Guard credentialing specialist Dorothy Smith, who worked at the exam center in Mandeville, Louisiana (REC New Orleans). Smith was charged with using middlemen to connect her with mariners who were willing to pay for false exam scores. Co-defendant, Beverly McCrary is accused of participating in the scheme while she was employed by the Coast Guard exam center and continuing after her retirement. Smith and McCrary are scheduled to stand trial on June 28, 2021.

The false scores created allegedly by the defendants resulted in the Coast Guard issuing unearned licenses without the required exams being passed. The exams tested mariners’ knowledge and training to safely operate under the authority of licenses, which were legally required to work various positions on vessels.

In the latest developments, two former marines, Alexis Bell and Micheal Wooten, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. Each admitted to acting as an intermediary between co-defendant Beverly McCrary and merchant mariners who were willing to pay for false passing exam scores. In March, three additional mariners plead guilty to having paid to have their test scores fixed and receiving fraudulent endorsements on their licenses.

Bell and Wooten acknowledged that they would take money from mariners and then pay McCrary for the false scores. They understood that McCrary would keep a portion of that money and use the rest to bribe another exam center employee to enter the scores. Bell admitted that, in addition to assisting eleven other mariners in obtaining false scores, he also had his scores fixed on three occasions. Wooten admitted that, in addition to assisting nine other mariners in obtaining false scores, he also had his scores fixed.

A sentencing date for Bell was set for July 8 and Wooten on July 22, 2021. The maximum penalty for each defendant is five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Separately, last week on April 15, the first three defendants to plead guilty were sentenced with each received a sentence of one year of probation, along with 100 hours of community service. Anthony Brown, David Galvan, and Cardell Hughes had individually admitted to illegally obtaining a mariner license by making payments to their co-defendants.

In total, 31 individuals were indicted in connection with the case.


Related Posts

Study Finds Suicide Accounts For More Deaths At Sea Than Fatal Injury Incidents

July 7, 2025
Seafaring Remains One Of The World’s Most Dangerous Professions–Report

Seafaring Remains One Of The World’s Most Dangerous Professions–Report

July 7, 2025
QUESTION OF THE WEEK:  Why is the Bay of Biscay Dangerous for Ships?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Why is the Bay of Biscay Dangerous for Ships?

July 7, 2025
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who is the Ship Master?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Who is the Ship Master?

June 30, 2025

Discussion about this post

Latest News

Aliko Dangote Submits Paperwork To Build Nigeria’s Largest Seaport In Ogun

Nigeria Ramps Up Campaign for IMO Category C Seat, Showcases Maritime, Aviation Potential on Global Stage

July 15, 2025

WCO Chairmanship: Afam Chukwuma Hails Adeniyi’s Appointment as Major Boost for Nigeria’s Customs and Economy

Aliko Dangote Submits Paperwork To Build Nigeria’s Largest Seaport In Ogun

Nigeria Customs Boss Extols Late Buhari’s Legacy Of Discipline

Vessels Expected At Lagos Ports As At 14th July, 2025

Duty-Free, But Not Trouble-Free: Mixed Reactions Trail UK’s Trade Window For Nigerian Exports

At Last, Lekki-Epe Corridor Stakeholders Agree On August 1st Enforcement Date For E-Call-Up 

Nigeria Losing Billions To Boat Importation As Indigenous Operators Urge Local Shipbuilding Drive

Court Ruling Against CRFFN’s Regulatory Powers Tears Customs Brokers Apart   

Oyetola Reaffirms Commitment to Logistics Reform, Commissions Zenith Carex HQ

Let the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria Breathe

MONDAY INTERVIEW: “70% of the crew of Ocean Dragon are Nigerians”— Mrs Bernadine Eloka 

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

The Usefulness Of Watermelon Seeds You May Not Know
Health

The Usefulness Of Watermelon Seeds You May Not Know

July 14, 2025

Watermelon is one fruit that’s hard to resist when it gets too hot. It’s sweet and is high in water...

KNOW YOUR BODY PARTS: THE HEART

KNOW YOUR BODY PARTS: THE HEART

June 30, 2025
Why Your Favourite Seasoning Cubes May Be Hurting Your Kidneys

Why Your Favourite Seasoning Cubes May Be Hurting Your Kidneys

June 30, 2025
Contraceptive Pills Can’t Cause Cervical Cancer – Expert

Contraceptive Pills Can’t Cause Cervical Cancer – Expert

June 30, 2025
ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

KNOW YOUR BODY PARTS: The Liver

June 16, 2025
ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

ONIONS: The Good Old Healing Vegetable

June 16, 2025
Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts

Why Prostate Disorder Cases Are Increasing Among Nigerian Men – Experts

June 1, 2025
20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

20m Nigerians Live With Mental Health Issues, Says WHO

June 1, 2025
Health Facts You Didn’t Know

How Your Habit Affects Fertility

May 19, 2025
Fruits For Raining Season

Fruits For Raining Season

May 19, 2025

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition