L
eonel Sanchez, 52 years old, of Revere, Massachusetts was arrested for bribing a Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles employee to issue Mass. Driver’s Licenses under a false license scheme whereby applicants would present Puerto Rican identity documents that belong to others. This cases shows that if your license is suspended or revoked, it’s better to apply for a hardship license instead of trying to get a fraudulent license.
This case resulted from an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Boston Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. The task force conducts complex investigations involving identity theft and public corruption relating to the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
From at least December 2012 through January 2013, Sanchez is alleged to have conducted a scheme with a scheme to knowingly and willfully produce false identification documents with the assistance of a clerk at the Revere, MA RMV. The former Registry Clerk is the subject of a federal criminal prosecution for his role in providing Massachusetts driver’s licenses and identification cards to individuals who were not eligible to receive them.
The former Registry employee made a full confession, admitting his role in issuing Massachusetts driver’s licenses and identification cards to individuals who were not eligible to receive them. The former Registry clerk admitted to working with Sanchez and other individuals in the scheme. The scheme involved “brokers” bringing “clients” to the Registry to obtain for the clients licenses and identification cards in identities other than their own. The former Registry employee was paid by the brokers in cash for each identification card or license he produced.
Sanchez allegedly conspired with the Registry licensing clerk to produce no fewer than thirty-three Massachusetts driver’s licenses to individuals who presented fraudulently obtained, but valid, Puerto Rican identification documents. The driver’s license applicants used fraudulently obtained but legitimate Puerto Rican identity documents to his clients in order to present the identity documents to the CW to obtain a legitimate Massachusetts driver’s licenses or identification cards.
Sanchez is further alleged to have provided his clients with Comcast bills that looked fake to present to the RMV as proof of address. The investigation alleges that Sanchez would often bring another individual to take the permit tests for his clients.
These activities violate federal law as well as G.L. c. 90 § 24B, a felony which carries a potential sentence of 5 years in state prison and a mandatory 1 year license revocation.
If you have lost your right to operate a motor vehicle, rather than trying to get a fraudulent license, you should try to get a legitimately issued hardship license.
Also, if your license has been suspended or revoked due to “COMP FRAUD LIC/ID,” you are entitled to be considered for a hardship license or early reinstatement. Contact me to find out more information regarding this option.