06-08-04 -- Awan, Lori -- Guilty Plea -- News Release

Eighth DMV Employee Admits Taking Cash to Fraudulently Produce Driver's Licenses

NEWARK - Another employee of the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicle Services pleaded guilty today to conspiring to unlawfully produce driver's licenses, admitting that she received $100 per bogus license, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Lori Awan, 39, of North Plainfield, is the eighth DMV employee since January to plead guilty in connection with the driver's license fraud scheme, in which employees of the state agency and non-employees received hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce and procure licenses for individuals who were not entitled to such licenses.

Awan pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls to one count of conspiring to produce more than five identification documents without lawful authority to do so. When she is sentenced on Sept. 22, Awan faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Awan is free on $20,000 bail pending sentencing.

Awan is cooperating in the federal investigation of the license-selling scheme at several DMV offices. More prosecutions are expected of DMV and non-DMV employees.

Awan admitted today that, as a service representative of the Springfield DMV office, between January 2002 and December 2002 she processed driver permits and licenses without ever having spoken with the respective applicant or checking for valid identification.

Awan said that she received cash payments of $100 for each bogus licenses she helped to produce.

Others pleading guilty so far are:

• Tonya Horn, 33, formerly of Scotch Plains and now of Easton, Pa., a service representative of the Springfield DMV office, admitted that she processed driver permits and licenses without ever having spoken with the respective applicants; she received between $100 and $150 for each of more than 100 fraudulent licences.

• Marcella Lewis, 36, of Plainfield, an examination technician at the DMV office in Elizabeth, admitted to permitting certain individuals to take multiple written examinations for driver's licenses for other individuals, and receiving $150 for each of more than 100 fraudulent licenses.

• Sheilina D. Moore, 28, of Clementon, a customer service representative at the DMV Mount Holly office, admitted receiving between $100 and $200 for each of more than 100 bogus licenses she helped produce.

• Linda Carlo, 41, of Newark, a customer service representative at the DMV Springfield office, admitted receiving $100 for each of more than 100 bogus licenses she helped produce.

• Anita Feathers, 53, of Sloatzburg, NY, also a customer service representative at the DMV Springfield office, admitted receiving $100 for each bogus license she helped produce.

• Barbara Carter, 52, of Roselle Park, a customer service representative at DMV Plus, a private agency in Springfield, admitted receiving $500 for each bogus license and DMV identification card she conspired to produce with DMV employees at the Springfield office.

• Rita Peterson, 40, of Newark, a customer service representative at the DMV Springfield office, admitted receiving $100 for each bogus license she helped produce.

Under U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Judge Walls will determine Awan's actual sentence based on a formula that takes into account the severity and characteristics of the offense and Awan's criminal history, if any. Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Under Sentencing Guidelines, defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Joseph Billy Jr., for their work in developing the cases against Awan and the other defendants.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian R. Howe of the U.S. Attorney's Special Prosecutions Unit in Newark.

Defense Attorney for Awan: Michael N. Pedicini Esq., Morristown