FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or
MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885
September 14, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORMER MVA EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO PRISON IN CONSPIRACY TO PRODUCE AND TRANSFER FRAUDULENT MARYLAND DRIVER’S LICENSES AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS
Baltimore, Maryland - US. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Warren Hall, age 48, of Parkville, Maryland, today to two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to produce and transfer Maryland driver’s licenses and identification cards without lawful authority. Judge Motz also entered an order requiring Hall to forfeit $40,000.
The sentence was announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; and John Kuo, Administrator of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Investigation and Security Services Division.
“Anyone who obtains a fraudulent government ID may pose a threat to public safety,” said William Winter, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore. “This type of criminal activity allows dangerous criminals to obscure their identities and cover their tracks. Given the potential security and safety implications - since this type of crime often allows individuals who may not be in this country lawfully to obtain legitimate U.S. identity documents - Homeland Security Investigations, along with our law enforcement partners in Maryland, will continue to aggressively target those participating in or facilitating these types of crimes.”
According to his plea agreement, Hall was a Senior Document Examiner at the Mondawmin Mall Branch of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and was permitted to issue identification documents, such as Maryland driver’s licenses and identification cards to individuals who were born outside the United States. Adalberto Prins acted as a translator for applicants seeking identification documents at the MVA’s Mondawmin Mall Branch and knew Hall from his work at the MVA. From November 2005 through January 2007 Hall conspired with Prins to unlawfully produce and transfer over 100 Maryland driver’s license learner permits, driver’s licenses and personal identification cards. Out of country applicants seeking to obtain identification documents traveled to the Mondawmin Mall MVA and met with Hall, who provided them with unlawfully produced identification documents in exchange for money and other valuable considerations. On February 20, 2009, Hall unlawfully produced and transferred a Maryland identification card to an undercover law enforcement officer.
Adalberto Benito Prins, age 49, of Baltimore is a fugitive.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked ICE - Homeland Security Investigations and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Investigation and Security Services Division for their work in this investigation. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Harry M. Gruber, who prosecuted the case.