Three Sentenced In Fraudulent Mississippi Driver’s License Case

Hattiesburg, Miss – Yolanda Jean Perkins, 48, of Laurel, a former driver’s license examiner for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety; Lorena Gomez, 33, of Laurel; and Elmer Enrique Martinez-Velasquez a/k/a Jose Martell Rivera, 32, an illegal alien from Mexico residing in Albertville, Alabama, were sentenced in U.S. District Court on October 27, 2014 for conspiracy to commit ID theft, United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced today.

Perkins was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $5000 fine and $2500 in restitution. Perkins was involved in the sale of 167 fraudulent driver’s licenses or ID cards.

Gomez was sentenced to 39 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $5000 fine and $2500 in restitution.

Martinez-Velasquez was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and $2500 in restitution. He was further ordered to be turned over to immigration authorities after his term of imprisonment for possible deportation.

The defendants were ordered to forfeit $4,928 in U.S. currency and one HP Laptop computer. A money judgment in the amount of $28,850 was also ordered.

“HSI will continue to work with MBI and our other law enforcement partners to investigate these kinds of cases and ensure that our national security is not compromised by illegal activities like this,” said Special Agent in Charge Raymond Parmer with Homeland Security Investigations. Parmer oversees a five-state area which includes Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.