Seattle: 3 sentenced in scheme to illegally sell Washington drivers licenses

Stephanie A. Clark; staff writer
Published: 12/18/10 9:00 am

Three people were sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Seattle in a conspiracy to illegally sell identification documents.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

Rodrigo Moura, 33, a Brazilian immigrant who lived in Kirkland and identified as the leader of the conspiracy, received two years and likely will be deported after his sentence. Melanie Yoder, 46, who has been on leave from the Department of License, got two months. Ana-Marie Lizares, 52, who quit her DOL job after her arrest, got eight months. The trio were arrested in June of this year.

Judge Richard Jones imposed the sentences saying, "when you put false identifications in the stream of commerce... you have no idea what the consequences might be."

According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, in September 2009, the Federal Bureau of Investigation received a tip that Moura was arranging for unqualified people to receive state drivers licenses and identity cards. The FBI was informed that people were coming from all over the country to the documents because the state does not require proof of legal immigration. The state does require documentation of residency, and these applicants did not meet that requirement. Officials said Moura allegedly picked the applicants up at the airport, provided them with an address to use in the application process, provided answers to any test questions, and arranged for the applicant to be processed by DOL employees Lizares or Yoder at the Bellevue licensing office.

The investigation determined that Moura charged the applicants $3,000 for the licenses, and paid approximately $500 per license to Yoder or Lizares. Yoder allegedly issued 20-25 licenses making less than $5,0000 while Lizares supposedly issued 50-75 licenses making up to $10,000.

In recommending prison terms for the state workers, federal prosecutor Norman Barbosa wrote to the court that "The corruption of public officials who have been trusted to issue secure identification documents is the type of crime that tends to undermine the public’s confidence in government. At a time of severe budget shortages at both the State and Federal level, this type of behavior makes it exceedingly difficult for governments to assure the public that their tax dollars are being used appropriately." DOL plans to review Yoder’s employment status now that the criminal case against her is complete.

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