DOCUMENT VENDOR, DMV EXAMINERS, AND CUSTOMERS CHARGED WITH FRAUD RELATING TO DRIVER’S LICENSES
A Total of Eighteen Individuals Charged in Scheme, Including Three DMV Examiners, Fourteen Customers, and One Document Vendor
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Miami Field Office, announce the indictment of Rolin Pierre, 50, of Fort Lauderdale, Mariline Myriam Ade, 42, of Miramar, Alysia Jackson, 44, of Sunrise, and Tempest Shanesha Wright, 30, of Fort Lauderdale. As well, fourteen persons were charged with related offenses.
In summary, three indictments charge that defendant Pierre conspired with each of Ade, Jackson, and Wright, who were examiners at three different Broward County offices of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to produce and transfer valid Florida driver’s licenses without lawful authority, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028(f). The indictments also charge each of these defendants with having produced Florida driver’s licenses without lawful authority, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028(a)(1).
In addition, fourteen separate indictments charge fourteen individuals who obtained Florida driver’s licenses from Pierre and his co-conspirators, using fraudulent immigration documents to support their license applications. These other defendants include Alexander Alvarez Lopez, 32, of Bradenton, Davon A. Barrett, 39, of Plantation, Michael Hugh Wayne Berry, 44, of Miami Gardens, Stephanie Blake, 41, of Lauderhill, Luis Carachure, 25, of Pompano Beach, Jose Valente Facio Alvarez, 31, of Lehigh Acres, Bernard Geffrard, 38, of Bradenton, Cristian Ionita, 33, of North Las Vegas, Nevada, Wedson Julmiste, 35, of Fort Lauderdale, Julie Michel, 30, of Lauderdale Lakes, Nixon Nicholas, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, Leonce Obei, 42, of Sunrise, Georgina Abigail Rock, 34, of Miramar, and Jacqueline Thomas, 39, of Sunrise.
Pierre and his co-conspirators will make their initial appearances on the charges against them at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 2, 2011, at the U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse at 299 E. Broward Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
If convicted of the charges in the indictment, Pierre and his co-defendants each face a possible term of imprisonment of up to fifteen years, plus a possible fine and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Fraud in the production and transfer of valid identification documents is a threat to our homeland security. We are pleased to have put these defendants out of business."
“Targeting document fraud schemes is a top enforcement priority for ICE,” said Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI in Miami. “Document fraud puts the security of our communities and even our country at risk by creating vulnerabilities that could be exploited. This is another example of the outstanding working partnership we have with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.”
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI, the City of Lauderhill Police Department, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol, which provided key assistance to ICE-HSI. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D. Couriel, Michael N. Berger, Olivia S. Choe, Michael J. Garofola, Kurt K. Lunkenheimer, Amanda Perwin, Seth M. Schlessinger, Karen O. Stewart, and Michael E. Thakur.
An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
