Unqualified Bus Drivers Took NJ Kids To School, Company Owner Admits: AG

PATERSON, NJ — A Passaic County man admitted to misleading school districts and employing unqualified bus drivers to transport children, officials said, as they investigate two Paterson school bus companies for alleged misconduct.

Officials have alleged that the owners of A-1 Elegant Tours and American Star Transportation employed unqualified drivers, operated unsafe buses, and failed to conduct mandatory drug testing and background checks on its employees.

The bus companies had contracts with school districts including Paterson, Jersey City, Mahwah, River Edge, and Franklin Lakes Public Schools; a driver with A-1 Elegant also crashed into five cars in Essex County in 2018 while on drugs, said officials.

On Monday, 59-year-old Henry Rhodes of Paterson pleaded guilty in front of an Essex County judge to two counts related to A-1 Elegant and two related to American Star, said NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin. He admitted to two counts of second-degree conspiracy and two counts of second-degree theft by deception, said Platkin.

Rhodes was manager of A-1 Elegant and had a supervisory role at American Star Transportation, Platkin said.

State police also arrested brothers Shelim Khalique, 53, of Wayne and Jwel Khalique, 43, of Totowa, who operated the bus company, on Dec. 20 according to Platkin’s office. They are accused of conspiracy, false representation for a government contract and theft by deception.

“A number of drivers were confirmed to be unlawfully driving buses, including two former A-1 Elegant bus drivers who drove buses with one or more children on board while under the influence of narcotics, resulting in a bus crash in Essex County,” Platkin said.” Investigation further revealed that the defendants employed over 30 drivers with criminal convictions, including a Megan’s Law registrant.”

Related article — Wayne Business Owner Facing Charges Over Unsafe Buses: AG

In September 2018, a driver employed with A-1 Elegant Tours hit five cars, two traffic poles and a fire hydrant in East Orange while under the influence of narcotics, authorities said. A 9-year-old child and an adult female bus aide were aboard the vehicle at the time; neither suffered injury, authorities said.

A River Edge police officer stopped one of American Star’s drivers in February 2022 after the operator ran a stop sign, Platkin’s office said — that driver had no license and was involved in a pending case for patronizing a prostitute, the AG’s office said. This was after officials indicted A-1 Elegant in March 2021, and its equipment, assets, and employees transferred to American Star.

Platkin said American Star also did not properly license drivers, either.

“...documents were submitted to school districts certifying that the company’s drivers and aides were properly vetted and licensed as required by state law, when in fact employees who were not properly licensed, and in some cases had criminal backgrounds, were transporting the students,” said Platkin.

Rhodes is represented by Howard Lesnik, Esq. of Mountainside, per the AG’s office.

“Prosecutors will be recommending Rhodes be sentenced to two concurrent four-year terms in state prison as a third-degree offender,” said Platkin.

This story contains reporting from former Patch editor Anthony Bellano.