Thread: KS - Spanish-speaking worker allegedly confesses to DMV undocumented worker fraud

Posted: May 05, 2015 7:02 PM PST
Updated: May 05, 2015 7:06 PM PST
By DeAnn Smith, Digital Content Manager
By Jeanene Kiesling, Reporter

OLATHE, KS (KCTV) -

A Kansas woman allegedly told authorities that she was able to receive tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks for issuing driver's license to undocumented workers because she was the only Spanish-speaking worker in the DMV office.

Court documents reveal details about how Samantha Moore allegedly issued 56 licenses illegally. Despite what prosecutors had publicly said, court documents say 17 Social Security numbers belonged to other people.

Seventeen were Social Security numbers that had not been issued and 22 were completely fake.

Moore allegedly made nearly $50,000 from 2011 to 2013 by working with two leaders of the scheme. They would allegedly send undocumented workers to the Mission DMV office where they were told to ask for a Spanish-speaking worker.

Moore was the office's only bilingual worker. The undocumented workers would pay up to $2,500 for the driver's license. They didn't have to take a written or driving test.

Court documents claim that Moore confessed in February and detailed how she manipulated the system. Authorities said they became aware of the scheme in July and put Moore under video and audio surveillance.

She said allegedly claimed she had stopped issuing the fraudulent driver's licenses after she became scared. She had attended a training class on internal fraud reporting and became worried she would be caught.

http://www.kctv5.com/story/28987419/...d-worker-fraud

We should not have bilingual government functions. If you don't speak English, you've no business in our government facilities to get or receive something. If you're a tourist, you need to go to your own Consulate for whatever you need of a government. If you're an immigrant coming here on a green card or visa, someone should have made sure that you are educated and speak fluent English before being given one. Gee, who should have seen to that? Well, it would start with Congress, of course, and then be enforced by the Administration.

I'm telling you, we need at least a 10 year Moratorium on Immigration to give us time to stop illegal immigration, remove illegal aliens from the country, and reset the system so what's happened to our country never ever happens again.

Judy....when I lived in Santa Clarita Ca...I took a County of Los Angeles test cause I wanted a job "with Benefits".....Scored 95 on the hard test and then was told I could only be hired if I was bilingual Spanish......I am a first generation AMERICAN and a NBC...and I could not get a County job.....left Ca. after that....

Crime

APRIL 23, 2015
At least 33 arrests made in Johnson County driver’s license fraud

With suspects projected on the screen, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe and Kansas Secretary of Revenue Nick Jordan held a press conference in the Johnson County district attorney’s office seeking the public’s help in locating two suspects in a Kansas driver’s license fraud case on Thursday in Olathe. | SHANE KEYSER Kansas City Star

By TONY RIZZO
trizzo@kcstar.com

A former Kansas driver’s license examiner in Johnson County has been charged with taking bribes to supply phony licenses to dozens of unqualified applicants who paid as much as $2,500 apiece, authorities said Thursday.
Authorities arrested 33 people this week in connection with the case, which investigators have dubbed Operation Chameleon.


The former Department of Revenue employee, Samantha Jo Moore, 28, of Kansas City, worked at the Mission office. Arrested Tuesday, she is charged with 51 felonies.

Johnson County district attorney on identity fraud case

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe and Kansas Secretary of Revenue Nick Jordan held a press conference involving the arrest of 33 people involved in a driver's license fraud case on Thursday (April 23, 2015 -- video by SHANE KEYSER | The Kansas City Star).

The investigation by agents of the Kansas Department of Revenue is ongoing, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe and Kansas Secretary of Revenue Nick Jordan said while announcing the charges at a press conference in Olathe.

Howe and Jordan said they could not provide many details of the investigation, which they said has been going for a “considerable” time.

Part of the investigation includes determining how the fraudulent licenses may have been used, Jordan said.

“It’s very disturbing, he said. “These are extremely important documents.”

The charges against Moore include multiple counts of bribery, official misconduct, computer crime, identity theft, felony use of a driver’s license and making a false writing.

She also is charged with filing fraudulent Kansas income tax returns for 2012 and 2013.

The alleged crimes occurred between 2011 and 2013, and include allegations that Moore took actions to destroy or tamper with evidence. She is being held in the Johnson County Jail on a bond of $250,000.

Moore was the only revenue employee charged in the case.

She began working for the department in 2011, which according to court documents is when the alleged criminal activity began.

But Jordan said he could not comment on when Moore’s employment ended.

Jordan said that in his five years as director, it was the first time there has been such a level of fraud uncovered.

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” he said.

Howe said he could not talk about how many more arrests could be expected, but he released the names and photographs of two people authorities believe helped direct license seekers to Moore. The Star is not naming those people because Howe would not say whether they have been charged.

Three other people, described as facilitators, also allegedly direct clients to Moore, officials said.

According to court documents, Shaylynn K. Celedon, 32, of Kansas City, Kan., faces 21 counts of bribery, felony use of a driver’s license, making a false writing and identity theft.

According to court documents, she allegedly bribed Moore on seven occasions between June 2012 and February 2015. Her request to lower her $250,000 bond was denied Tuesday.

Luis Renova Contreras, 43, of Kansas City, Kan., is accused of 17 felony counts, including five counts of bribery. He was released from custody after posting a $250,000 bond. He is required to be under house arrest as a condition of bond, according to court records.
Another Kansas City, Kan., woman, 27-year-old Carolina Mejia, is charged with bribing Moore on two occasions in 2011 and faces four other felony charges. Her bond was reduced from $250,000 to $100,000 during her court hearing.
Twenty-nine others arrested this week have been charged with single counts of bribery, felony use of a driver’s license and making a false writing. Each was released after posting a $2,500 bond, according to jail records.
Court and jail records identify them as Jesus Flores-Basurto, 38, Octavio Rodriguez-Rodriguez, 38, Victor Jimenez-Flores, 50, and Edgar Hernandez-Gonzalez, 38, of Overland Park; Jose Aguero, 37, Hector Castro-Vasquez, 24, Isabel Chavez, 35, and Fidel Valverde, 49, of Olathe; Andres Ruiz-Arellanes, 47, of Merriam; and Francisco Cacique, 50, Pedro Olvera, 43, Veronica Anchondo-Acosta, 43, Alexander Arroyo, 35, Ana Castro-Villalobos, 39, Hector Castro, 47, Porfirio Espinoza-Nevarez, 43, Cristina Hernandez, 34, Ricardo Jimenez-Serrano, 33, Edson Mera, 39, Lazaro Ortega, 36, Alvino Ramirez, 38, Marcos Reyna, 36, Juan Valles, 44, Refugio Hernandez, 40, Justino Mejia-Lopez, 42, Alfredo Mercado, 44, Andres Rangel-Pena, 36, Jesus Gomez, 42, and Fermin Zepeda, 44, all of Kansas City, Kan.
To reach Tony Rizzo, call 816-234-4435 or send email to trizzo@kcstar.com.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local...e19310541.html

Originally Posted by Judy

I'm telling you, we need at least a 10 year Moratorium on Immigration to give us time to stop illegal immigration, remove illegal aliens from the country, and reset the system so what's happened to our country never ever happens again.

Immgrants used to rely on people who spoke their language and at least enough English, to interact with our government agencies. Unfortunately judges who legalize but have little common sense have created requirements for us to speak the foreigners' languages.
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Americans first in this magnificent country

American jobs for American workers

Fair trade, not free trade

Originally Posted by grandmasmad

Judy....when I lived in Santa Clarita Ca...I took a County of Los Angeles test cause I wanted a job "with Benefits".....Scored 95 on the hard test and then was told I could only be hired if I was bilingual Spanish......I am a first generation AMERICAN and a NBC...and I could not get a County job.....left Ca. after that....

Thank you so much for sharing that terrible experience. It's just gawd awful what is happening to our dear Americans in our own country. Unbelievable. I hope we can stop this madness, grandmasmad, by electing more of the right people in 2016. We have some, but we need more. We're 6 short in the Senate and 1 in the White House. Can we do 7 more in 2016?

I. Think. We. Can.

(I sure hope so, anyway.)