Wayne Business Owner Facing Charges Over Unsafe Buses: AG – Wayne, NJ Patch

PATERSON, NJ — Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced criminal charges against a Wayne business owner, and his Paterson-based school bus company.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, A-1 Elegant Tours, which drove buses for school districts in Passaic and Essex counties, “covered” up its hiring practices and used vehicles in such poor condition that they had to be impounded.

Company owner Shelim Khalique, 51, of Wayne, and its manager, Henry Rhodes, 56, of Paterson, have each been charged with conspiracy (second degree), false representations for a government contract (second degree), theft by deception (second degree) and tampering with public records or information (third degree).

Personnel files seized last year during execution of a search warrant revealed that A-1 employed numerous drivers who did not have valid commercial driver’s licenses or required endorsements, had suspended licenses, and had criminal records. A-1 also employed bus aides with criminal records. A number of files were missing mandatory records of fingerprinting, background checks, and drug testing.

Two former drivers are also facing criminal charges in Passaic and Essex counties after allegedly operating buses while under the influence of narcotics, according to prosecutors. Another former driver is a registered sex offender under Megan’s Law, prosecutors said.

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 allegedly 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.

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 allegedly 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.

From 2016 to 2020, A-1 had contracts with public school districts in Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties. The charges above relate exclusively to contracts in Essex County, but the investigation is ongoing, according to the Attorney General’s Office.