Former DPS Employee Sentenced for Helping Criminals Obtain Fake Licenses

Reported by: Erica Proffer
Last Update: 7:20 pm

MCALLEN - A former DPS employee will serve prison time for her part in getting fake Texas licenses in the hands of drug criminals, but the judge says the sentence isn’t enough.

Judge Randy Crane said he was surprised the punishment for this crime was so lenient. His hands were tied by federal law.

The group of four admitted they put fake licenses in the cartel's hands. Most of them were only sentenced to time served, just a few months. Crane said this is a danger, not only to the Valley but also the nation. Those involved in this case faced zero to six months in prison. Crane called that a lenient punishment, but it's what the law states.

The DPS employee involved, Maritza de Leon, got the most time. She was handed a two-month sentence and two years probation. The others linked to this case got time served.

Crane said de Leon will start her prison time on Aug. 1. He wanted her to spend time with her three children while they're out of school for the summer.

De Leon has no criminal history. She worked for the DPS office for 14 years.

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