FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
FEBRUARY 27, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAN SENTENCED FOR CONSPIRACY TO OBTAIN AND SELL DRIVERS’ LICENSES TO ILLEGAL ALIENS
Bribes to Maryland MVA Employee Demonstrate Vulnerability
Greenbelt, Maryland - Dennys Tome-Henriquez, age 28, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to produce and transfer unlawfully produced Maryland drivers’ licenses issued by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
“Although state-issued drivers’ licenses are the primary form of identification used by American citizens, the system by which those identification cards are issued is vulnerable to fraud and corruption,” said United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. Mr. Rosenstein noted, “This case is one of several prosecutions involving corrupt Maryland MVA employees identified with the assistance of the MVA’s Internal Investigations Section.”
According to the plea agreement presented to the court on December 12, 2006, Tome-Henriquez met with prospective drivers’ license applicants during 2006 who were willing to pay money to obtain a driver’s license illegally. Many of the applicants were illegal aliens seeking government identification documents.
Applicants paid Tome-Henriquez and other conspirators up to $3,800 for each fraudulently issued Maryland driver’s license. Tome-Henriquez and other conspirators arranged for the applicants to travel to the Beltsville branch of the MVA and directed the applicants to the workstation of Candace Nicole Green, who fraudulently approved the issuance of Maryland drivers’ licenses. Ana Maria Lorena Creque paid Green approximately $1,300 for each unlawfully produced license. Tome-Henriquez admitted that he was responsible for the production and transfer of up to 25 illegally produced Maryland drivers’ licenses.
On September 16, 2006, Tome-Henriquez met with four applicants who were willing to pay to obtain a driver’s license illegally. One of the applicants was cooperating with law enforcement agents. Tome-Henriquez took the applicants into the Beltsville branch of the MVA and directed them to Green’s workstation to obtain the unlawfully produced drivers’ licenses.
Tome-Henriquez also obtained a fraudulent driver’s license in his own name from Green, using the Maryland address of another co-conspirator rather than his own address in New Jersey. Agents arrested Tome-Henriquez after he left the MVA office and seized approximately $22,200.
Creque, age 45, of Adelphi, Maryland, and Green, age 34, of Landover, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce and sell unlawfully produced Maryland driver’s licenses. Each faces a maximum sentence of 15 years. Green is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6 and Creque on July 16, 2007.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed by the Internal Investigations Section of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Investigation and Security Services Division, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Attorney’s Office. The case originated with information provided by the MVA. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Dunne, who is prosecuting the case.