Posted on 01/31/2006 3:45:47 PM PST by csvset
NORFOLK -– Three Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles employees were arrested today on charges of selling phony driver’s licenses across the counter to “customers” for $2,000 each, authorities said Tuesday. Two facilitators were also charged.
Sisters Teshara L. Sykes and Tonita S. Sykes and the third employee, Jamille C. Lowther, were arrested today at DMV offices in Norfolk. They were making their initial appearances this afternoon in federal court.
The case unfolded when FBI agents in New York discovered a suspected illegal immigrant talking about his ability to obtain phony driver's licenses in Norfolk, according to court records unsealed today.
The FBI sent undercover operatives to Norfolk DMV offices where they were able to purchase the fake driver’s licenses through a facilitator, the records say. It’s unclear how many phony licenses were issued.
The case follows investigations in Northern Virginia where DMV employees were charged and convicted of similar, though unrelated, activity. The crime is of concern to authorities because seven of the 19 Sept. 11, 2001, hijackers obtained phony IDs in Virginia.
Ooops. Employees.
teshara and tonita?
is that like latrina and toiletta?
Where do these names come from?
Since their race isn't mentioned, we can assume they're all Democrats.
;-)
Virginia has really beefed-up the procedures since the embarrassment of 9/11. But crooked employees will always find a way to game the system.
I hope the penalties for DL fraud were also beefed up to the severe felony category.
It took me three days in a DMV, and numerous calls to the various federal agencies, to get it back.
AND STILL this stuff goes on. Sheez.
But...but....but all the state employees are soooooo underpaid and this really doesn't harm anybody. (sarcasm tag applied here) I hope they get the book thrown at them, they have jeapordized every American citizen with their greed!
I wonder how many illegal aliens were victimized by these three DMV workers?
Yes I am certain they are Democrats and I look for Jesse Jackson to show up soon and say how horrible it is that these employees were singled out.
I think it's the pharmaceutical industry.
Hey, at least her moma didn't name her Gonorrea Gladly
Also arrested:
Andy Earl Brathwaite, 27, Trinidad, illegally in U.S.
Felix Reyes, 45, Trinidad, illegally in U.S.
Andy Brathwaite was already in Norfolk Police custody on unrelated charges, and Felix Reyes was arrested Tuesday in New York City.
Since their race isn't mentioned, we can assume they're all Democrats.
I don't think it was necessary to mention their race. That's too easy.
Who knows, they could be completely non-political. Lotta young kids are. I bet they're Democrats 1 day every four years though...
Silly Virginians. In Illinois we sell REAL drivers licenses.
Former DMV workers get prison for phony licenses
By TIM MCGLONE, The Virginian-Pilot
© July 27, 2006
Last updated: 9:55 PM
NORFOLK - Three former Department of Motor Vehicles employees have been sentenced to prison terms for selling phony driver's licenses across the counter.
Jamille C. Lowther, 29, was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in federal prison and fined $10,000 for her role in the conspiracy. Co-defendant Tonita S. Sykes, 23, was sentenced the same morning to five years in prison and fined $9,000.
They were arrested along with Sykes' sister, Teshara L. Sykes, 21, in February while working at Norfolk DMV offices. They later admitted in court that they sold phony driver's licenses for $2,000 each.
Three other defendants who facilitated some of those transactions from the outside have also pleaded guilty.
Andy E. Brathwaite, 28, was sentenced to two years in prison. His wife, Tomeka Brathwaite, 22, was sentenced to three years' probation. Felix S. Reyes, 46, was sentenced to five months behind bars.
The FBI began investigating the conspiracy last summer when an informant told agents he could get fake driver's licenses directly from DMV, according to court records.
The FBI said some of the phony licenses turned up on defendants in a drug conspiracy case.
Law enforcement officials have been cracking down on phony identification card schemes since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Some of the hijackers obtained phony Virginia IDs.
Shocker...
Heh. I was reading the thread, thinking about my own experience with the VA DMV, then I saw that I had posted it already. LOL.
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