Authorities Seek Colombian In Illegal Driver's License Case

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 24, 2007

TAMPA - State and federal authorities are asking for the public's help in tracking down a 51-year-old Colombian woman they say is linked to a driver's license fraud scheme in Hillsborough County.

Gloria Ines Bustamante was charged by the state in April with being the main recruiter in a driver's license conspiracy they say involved a clerk in the Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office who accepted money from undocumented immigrants to obtain legitimate Florida driver's licenses.

Authorities say Bustamante charged immigrants $1,200 to obtain legitimate driver's licenses. She then referred them to Deisy Oropesa, 30, a former Hillsborough County Tax Collector's Office customer service representative, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says in a written statement.

Oropesa, who has been indicted on federal charges, is accused of entering false information into the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles' computer system to reflect that those soliciting driver's licenses were presenting U.S. passports even though they weren't.

"We are confident that someone in our community will recognize this criminal and notify us," Susan McCormick, deputy special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Tampa, says in a written statement.

"We have closed a serious security vulnerability and will work tirelessly to ensure that those involved in this scheme are brought to justice," McCormick says.

According to state charges brought last year, Oropesa acknowledged selling fraudulent licenses and altering the citizenship status of 58 people obtaining driver's licenses for $200 per transaction.

Oropesa acknowledged receiving $25,000 for her participation in the ring, according to a criminal arrest affidavit filed by the Florida Highway Patrol in November.

Anyone with information regarding Bustamante's whereabouts is asked to call ICE toll-free at 1-866-347-2423. The lines are staffed around the clock.

Both ICE and the highway patrol are investigating the case. Authorities expect additional arrests.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB4MHY0Q5F.html