Posted on July 13, 2005

Virginia DMV Official, Wife Held

Jerry Seper, Washington Times, July 13

A Virginia man who worked as a manager at a Department of Motor Vehicles office at Springfield Mall and his wife, a former DMV clerk, were arrested yesterday by federal agents on charges of selling valid driver’s licenses for as much as $3,500 each — mostly to illegal aliens.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty said Francisco J. Martinez, 57, and his wife, Miriam, 56, both of Stafford, Va., have been charged with conspiracy to commit identification fraud and conspiracy to produce Virginia driver’s licenses by fraud, both felonies.

If convicted, they could get 15 years in prison and fines totaling $250,000.

Also arrested was Daniel Jose Guardia Lopez, 25, of Alexandria, a Bolivian national whom law-enforcement authorities identified as being in the United States illegally.

{snip}

Yesterday’s charges, according to Mr. McNulty, stem from efforts by the Martinezes and Mr. Guardia Lopez to produce and sell authentic licenses to illegal aliens and other unqualified applicants. He said Mr. Martinez produced the licenses for immigrants located and sent to him by his wife and Mr. Guardia Lopez.

Mr. McNulty said Mr. Guardia Lopez found clients, collected and passed on fees ranging from $2,000 to $3,500 and relayed instructions from Mrs. Martinez to the illegals about when to go to the DMV office in Springfield to get their licenses.

{snip}