Commission grants multiple salesperson licenses after applicants describe rehabilitation, restitution and supervision plans

The Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission approved a series of salesperson licensure appeals after applicants described rehabilitation, restitution and oversight arrangements.

Desirae Pappas, who said she stole while struggling with addiction and described three years of sobriety and completed restitution, received approval after a dealer representative told the commission she had been helping administratively at the store. Pappas said, “I was addicted to drugs and I was stealing clothes to provide for my drug habit,” and testified that she has completed restitution and treatment.

Travis Thompson described inpatient treatment, participation in AA/NA and ongoing meetings; his supervisor, Kyle Banks, said he would provide direct oversight. Thompson said he has attended meetings and maintains contact with a sponsor. Calvin McHenry, Malik Hamud (listed in the transcript as “Malik Hamud”), Mr. Hernandez (who described a federal conviction and recently completed probation), Ronnie Ales, and other applicants also received approval after commissioners weighed the applicants’ admissions, restitution records, supervision plans and evidence of rehabilitation.

Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that consumer protection is paramount and pressed applicants and their sponsor dealers about supervision, transparency and documentation. Where staff lacked full detail (for example, exact counts of refunds or sales tied to a specific fee), commissioners sought additional proof and encouraged staff to follow up. Licenses were issued electronically with hard copies to follow.