DMV Workers Arrested for Making Fake IDs

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

At least 22 people have been charged in connection with a ring making fake IDs. Among the accused are two employees from New York's Department of Motor Vehicles. They were arrested for accepting bribes for using stolen identities to issue fake drivers licences. Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, says high-tech security is useless if employees are dishonest.

"We hope to send a message to every employee of every government agency that you cannot sell your integrity," Bharara says. "If you do, you put everyone else in your community at risk, and your country at risk."

Prosecutors say the IDs went to convicted felons, including a sex offender, and someone who'd appeared on "America's Most Wanted." They say an undercover investigator posing as a man on the U.S. no-fly list was also able to get a fake ID.

David Swarts, the commissioner of the New York City DMV says brand new facial recognition software will prevent ID fraud from happening again.

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