AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

MARCH 14, 2006

FORMER MARYLAND MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEE AND DRIVER’S SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO SELL UNLAWFULLY PRODUCED IDENTIFICATION CARDS

Over 100 False MVA Identification Documents Sold For $2,000 Each

BALTIMORE, Maryland - United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announces that a federal grand jury has indicted former Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) employee James Edwin Harrell, age 49, of Beltsville, Maryland; and Daniel Bernabe Aranada Mellado, age 38, of Silver Spring, Maryland, an employee of Val’s Driving School in Wheaton, Maryland, for conspiring to produce and sell unlawfully produced identification documents, specifically Maryland Identification Cards issued by the MVA, for approximately $2,000 each.

According to the three-count superseding indictment returned on March 9, 2006, and unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants, Harrell and Aranada conspired with Valentin Milstein, age 60, of Silver Spring, who owned Val’s Driving School, to produce and transfer more than 100 unlawfully produced identification documents from May 26, 2004 until February 7, 2005 . In addition, the indictment alleges that the defendants should forfeit $200,000 to the United States.

Specifically, the indictment alleges that Milstein and Aranada met with prospective identification card applicants at the school and other locations. Applicants would pay Milstein and Araneda for making arrangements for applicants to receive the unlawfully produced identification documents. According to the indictment, Araneda and Milstein would provide money to Harrell, who was employed at the MVA office in Beltsville, where his duties included the issuance of Maryland drivers’ licenses and Maryland Identification Cards. Harrell met with the applicants at the Beltsville MVA to produce the Maryland Identification Cards. Harrell provided Aranada with the unlawfully produced Identification Cards, which Araneda gave to the applicants with whom he met at businesses in the Beltsville vicinity.

Harrell and Aranada face a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Their initial appearances were held today in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Milstein was indicted on May 10, 2005, for conspiring to produce and sell unlawfully produced identification documents, including Maryland Identification Cards.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the investigative work performed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Internal Investigations Department and the United States Attorney’s Office. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Gruber, who is prosecuting the case.