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Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/061107grandrapids.htm

November 7, 2006

Polish man pleads guilty to document fraud

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - An illegal alien from Poland, who was a former resident of Garfield, N.J., pleaded guilty here yesterday to felony document fraud by procuring fraudulent Michigan driver's licenses for other illegal Polish aliens living in New Jersey.

Today's guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Chiara, Western District of Michigan, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Moskowitz.

Wojchiech Ostrowski, 36, made his guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy P. Greeley. He admitted that between 2002 and 2004 he repeatedly transported other Polish aliens from New Jersey to the Lansing area and assisted them in unlawfully obtaining Michigan driver's licenses.

Ostrowski also admitted that in addition to transporting the aliens, he helped them complete their driver proficiency tests, provided them with fraudulent Lansing-area addresses to use on their license applications, and directed them to have the Department of State mail the completed licenses to U.S. Post Office boxes rented by the aliens in the Lansing area, solely for the purpose of receiving their licenses. He charged each illegal alien between $1200 and $1500.

"An identification document is often the key to establishing a fictitious identity in order to obtain benefits, and to facilitate criminal and terrorist activity," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Detroit. "ICE will diligently pursue anyone who produces or sells fraudulent documents, and - with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office - we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law."

Possessing driver's licenses with intent to unlawfully transfer them is a five-year felony. A sentencing date has not been scheduled before Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell in Grand Rapids. After serving his sentence, Ostrowski will be processed for deportation to Poland.

The case was jointly investigated by ICE and the Michigan State Police Identity-Theft Unit. The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office and Michigan Department of State (Enforcement Division) also assisted in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagen W. Frank, Western District of Michigan, prosecuted the case.

-- ICE --