BAY COUNTY, Fla. — Eight people have been arrested in connection with an alleged scheme to sell Florida driver’s licenses to illegal aliens, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations announced Thursday.
Two Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DMV) employees are accused of bypassing testing procedures and issuing licenses in exchange for cash. The operation is said to have drawn individuals from across the state to Bay County to obtain fraudulent identification documents.
Attorney General James Uthmeier joined Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford to announce the arrests, which include DMV employees Bancelie Velazco and Demetrius Smith II, along with six others said to have participated in the scheme either as intermediaries or recipients.
The others arrested are Niurbis Rosales, Leonardo Gutierrez, Hung Du, Isbrieta Parra, Zoila Gonzalez-Pena, and Mirna Fernandez.
According to investigators, in-house video surveillance at the DMV revealed individuals receiving licenses without taking the required exams. Payments were reportedly made to Velazco and Mr Smith either in person or via cash app transactions facilitated by third-party brokers.
“We appreciate our partners that keep our state safe,” said Sheriff Ford.
Attorney General Uthmeier praised the joint operation and issued a warning to others who may attempt similar acts.
“My warning to any illegal alien coming to Florida to commit further crimes: we are going to find you, hold you accountable, and then send you back to where you came from,” Mr Uthmeier said.
The charges filed so far include unlawful issuance of a driver’s license by a DMV employee, official misconduct, and unlawful possession of a driver’s license. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges are said to be pending.
