Illegal License Scheme Brought Down

Victor Vasquez, 36, of Madera, California, was accused and convicted of unlawfully producing and transferring identification documents in order to sell official California driver’s licenses to ineligible license recipients.

According to TurnTo23, thirteen other defendants were also named in the case.

Here’s how they were able to issue legal California licenses:

Between September 2006 and January 2011, Vasquez worked to recruit new driver’s license recipients who were unable to legally obtain licenses.  He advertised the service via word of mouth and networking.

The recruits would then go to Rosemary Fierros who would give pass along a list of potential “clients” applications and a portion of the payment to her brother Alfonso Casarez.

Casarez, who worked as a technician for the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at the Olive Avenue, Fresno location, would issue authentic California licenses to individuals who had not taken the DMV required tests.

Once Casarez had possession of the driver’s license number, he would electronically access the recipient’s drivers’s record and alter it so that it reflected that the driver had passed the required tests.

Next, the DMV would automatically issue, then mail a genuine driver’s license to the recipient.

Vasquez admitted to assisting in illegally issuing numerous passenger car and commercial vehicle licenses.

“On February 19, 2013, Alfonso Casarez pleaded guilty for his involvement in the conspiracy.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2013.  On March 1, 2013, Rosemary Fierros was found guilty by a jury in federal court of 31 felony criminal counts in connection with the charged scheme.  She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2013,” TurnTo23 reported.

At this time, information regarding the number of illegal licenses that were distributed has not been released.