Feds: Gas station had role in fake ID scheme
By DALE LEZON HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Oct. 7, 2010, 1:54PM


Two former employees for the Texas Department of Public Safety — a trooper and a clerk — have been convicted of selling driver's licenses in Houston, according to federal authorities.

Officials said former Trooper Mark DeArza, 39, of Houston, and Lidia Gutierrez, 37, of Galena Park, pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell Texas driver's licenses to unqualified applicants for a fee.

Both are scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 7. They each face up to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release. They also face a possible fine of up to $250,000.

DeArza pleaded guilty Wednesday while Gutierrez pleaded guilty Sept. 30. They were indicted in August.

Federal authorities said DeArza and Gutierrez, who were employed at the DPS office near Ellington Field, admitted to conspiring to sell driver's licenses to unauthorized people on May 14, 2010 and again on July 26, 2010.

The operator of a gasoline station allegedly acted as a middleman in the scheme, federal authorities said. The operator, Maen Bittar, 46, was indicted along with DeArza and Gutierrez and is awaiting trial.

Federal officials said people allegedly paid Bittar between $3,000 and $3,500 and he allegedly referred them to DeArza and Gutierrez.

dale.lezon@chron.com
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