Baltimore, Maryland - April Bell, age 35, of Parkville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to produce and sell fraudulently issued Maryland driver’s licenses, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to Bell’s plea agreement, Bell worked at the Mondawmin Mall branch of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) in Baltimore. Conspirators contacted Bell and provided her with the number of applicants who would be illicitly seeking Maryland driver’s licenses on a particular day. The conspirators then visited the Mondawmin Branch of the MVA and contacted Bell by telephone or text message with a physical description of the applicants. Bell processed the applications of such applicants by scanning false information into the MVA database or by inventing false driver’s license information from other states. Bell failed to administer required tests to applicants. Bell unlawfully produced between 20 and 24 Maryland driver’s licenses for which she was paid, including four licenses unlawfully produced from July 2007 to January 2008.

Bell faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. U.S. District Judge William M. Nickerson scheduled sentencing for February 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration - Investigation and Security Services Division for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Sujit M. Raman, who is prosecuting the case.