School bus company operating in Valley Stream filed forged insurance papers, Nassau DA says

Nassau County prosecutors charged a father and son with filing forged insurance documents while operating a Queens-based school bus company in Valley Stream.

Malik Turnage Sr., 52, and Malik Turnage Jr., 27, were charged with four felony counts of filing a false instrument while they operate Turnage Jr. submitted forged certificates of insurance to the district in October 2023 after the district asked for updated liability insurance from bus contractors.

"These defendants were trusted with safely transporting young students, but they chose to allegedly cut corners and put lives at risk," Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement. "Operating school buses without proper insurance is not only illegal, but it’s also completely reckless and unacceptable. My office will never tolerate anyone who gambles with the safety of our children or tries to skirt the responsibility of protecting them."

Both Turnages pleaded not guilty during their arraignment on Tuesday in Nassau County court. They were released on their own recognizance and ordered to return to court Nov. 5.

If convicted, they could face 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison.

"The Turnages are hardworking, good people," said Edward Sapone, their defense attorney. "I'm confident that both sides can come together to share important information and work this case out."

Prosecutors said Turnage Jr. submitted certificates of insurance listed under Integon National Insurance Company. The school district later found the certificates were forged, prosecutors said.

Officials said the bus company had separate insurance that did not cover the school district’s contract. The Integon insurance company and another insurance company did not have any records for Cheese Bus to cover working with the Valley Stream school district.

 Valley Stream Central district officials said they launched an investigation in 2023 involving one of the bus company's drivers during a "deeply concerning incident" with a student. The district said it found Cheese Bus was operating without valid liability insurance.

"The district reported this finding to law enforcement and terminated its shuttle bus contract with the company. We have since transitioned to an internally operated shuttle bus service to ensure student safety and efficiency," Superintendent Wayne Loper said in a statement. 

"The district has and continues to cooperate fully with law enforcement so this matter will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. We are committed to ensuring that anyone who jeopardizes the safety of our students are held accountable for their action," Loper said. 

Prosecutors charged a bus driver for Cheese Bus with sexually abusing a Valley Stream girl on his bus multiple times in 2023, Newsday previously reported. The bus company had a contract to transport English learner students.

The Turnages were not charged in the case, but the student’s family filed a lawsuit against the Cheese Bus company, the bus driver, Giovanny Campos, the school district and Nassau County.

Campos pleaded guilty in January to second-degree attempted kidnapping and third-degree rape. On March 5, he was sentenced to four years in prison, according to the Nassau District Attorney's office.

A different lawyer for the company said last year the driver had passed a criminal background check.

The company’s CEO, Malik Turnage Sr. said in a website post last year the company was looking into security improvements, including live-feed cameras.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.