Posted on 04/29/2005 1:37:16 AM PDT by dennisw
Federal and state authorities arrested 23 people accused of buying and selling bogus commercial Florida driver's licenses following a five-month investigation led by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Among those charged were eight Palm Beach County drivers and three driver's license examiners in Broward and Miami-Dade counties accused of selling fake licenses for $100 to $200.
The investigation began after an informant tipped the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to the scheme, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Teri Barbera said. They then shared the information with other local, state and national agencies. The licenses, which were authentic, identified the cardholders as U.S. citizens. Federal authorities said 36 of those taken into custody -- foreign nationals from various Latin American and Asian countries -- received commercial driver's licenses, certificates to transport hazardous materials or access to sensitive areas such as South Florida ports.
Some of the men arrested in the investigation were involved in 11 traffic accidents that resulted in injuries. One driver was involved in a fatal accident he was not responsible for, Brierton said. Authorities also suspect three Broward County driving schools of acting as recruiters for the people who purchased the licenses. Employees at the driving schools solicited bribes ranging from $1,500 to $3,000, Jiménez said. Employees of the traffic schools allegedly found men who were in the United States illegally and who wanted a commercial driver's license. The recruiters would refer the men to the three driver's license examiners and hand them any necessary information, Jiménez said. One recruiter, Charles Phillip Philome, was charged with conspiracy to produce identification documents. The Highway Patrol will shut down Discount Driving Schools, Lesmarge Driving School and Freddies Driving School for their roles in selling the illegally obtained licenses.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
Keep it up Feds.....
ping
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No doubt the crooked officials will say that they were confused by the paperwork.
Seriously though, it seems as though DMV offices around the country are proving to be full of corrupt employees.
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I guess that means the rest were responsible for the other 10 accidents that caused injuries.
According to DC, you can stay in the US illegally as long as you don't falsify your ID. How much longer can the feds continue this schizophrenic attitude?
If he had an illegal license he had no RIGHT to be on the road.. so he was TOTALLY responsible for it IMHO
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