http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/nj ... cheme.html

3 convicted in N.J. in license scheme

A federal jury in Camden this week convicted three people of running a scheme to supply driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
Three other defendants, including a former Philadelphia police officer, pleaded guilty in the case.

The accused ringleader, Altagracia "Grace" Rosario, created documents, such as fake Puerto Rican birth certificates, that illegal immigrants then used at the driver's license center in Bensalem, prosecutors said.

Ronald Henry, a Philadelphia police officer from 1963 to 1977, worked as an examiner in the Bensalem office. He was accused of falsifying documents to show the immigrants had passed written and road tests.

Henry, 64, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty during the two-week trial.

Prosecutors said the group produced thousands of fake licenses - including commercial driver's licenses - during a two-year period, charging mainly Central and South American immigrants $2,000 to $5,000.

"These individuals enabled in some cases non-English speaking, illegal aliens to get licenses and climb behind the wheel of tractor-trailers," said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie. "That's not only criminal, it's frightening. We're glad they're out of business and headed to prison."

After seven hours of deliberation, the jury on Tuesday convicted Rosario, 48, her daughter Nancy Elgende, 29, and Jose Rios, 44, all of Robbinsville, N.J.

Two other defendants - Lizette Mahsel, 25, who also is Rosario's daughter, and Christopher Nix, 26, both of Robbinsville - pleaded guilty before trial.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Sept. 6. All the defendants remain free on bail, but prosecutors plan to argue today that bail should be revoked.

At trial, prosecutors displayed numerous altered and counterfeit visas, birth certificates and Social Security cards seized from Rosario's home. Prosecutors also introduced scanned images of visas, in varying states of alteration, found on her computer hard drive.