Thread: (NJ)Cops:(Illegal Alien)Phony driver's license ring nailed

Cops: Phony driver's license ring nailed
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Charges: MVC worker supplied them for illegal immigrants
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 08/15/06

BY ANDREA ALEXANDER
FREEHOLD BUREAU

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — A New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission worker and a second suspect have been arrested on charges they supplied fraudulent driver's licenses, mostly to illegal immigrants. The arrests Friday came after the accomplice sold a license for $2,300 to an undercover state trooper, authorities said.

Valerie Materia, 48, of Jackson, second in command at the MVC office in Freehold Township, provided at least 15, and perhaps more than 50, fake driver's licenses to Elvis Castro, 26, of Sayreville, State Police Capt. Al Della Fave said. Castro acted as a broker, selling the licenses, Della Fave said.

After a six-month investigation by the State Police Auto Unit, the trooper posed as a customer trying to obtain a fraudulent digital driver's license. The trooper met with Castro Friday to complete the transaction, Della Fave said. Materia and Castro were then arrested and the money was retrieved by the State Police, Della Fave said.

The licenses were sold to people who did not have the paperwork required to obtain one legally, Della Fave said. Castro was undocumented himself, Della Fave said.

Castro's girlfriend, Yeni Duarte-Quiroa, 25, of Sayreville also was charged in the case but played a minor role, Della Fave said. Castro and his girlfriend did not work for the Motor Vehicle Commission, Della Fave said.

Police were able to confirm 15 cases, but believe more than 50 fraudulent licenses may have been issued, Della Fave said. The investigation is continuing, and others could be charged, Della Fave said.

Materia was charged with 15 counts of official misconduct, pattern to commit official misconduct, tampering with public records, forgery and conspiracy, Della Fave said. She was released on $35,000 bail, he said.

No one answered the door Monday at Materia's two-story home on Bartley Road in Jackson.

Materia will face a hearing today to determine if she will be suspended without pay from her $41,000-year-job as a customer service representative, said Mike Horan, spokesman for the MVC.

Castro has been charged with conspiracy to commit official misconduct, official misconduct and conspiracy with others and is being held at the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, on $100,000 bail, Della Fave said. Duarte-Quiroa, Castro's girlfriend, was charged with conspiracy to tamper with public records and released, Della Fave said.

The Motor Vehicle Commission has stepped up efforts to enhance security as a result of reforms adopted in 2003, Horan said.

"Five years ago, this type of activity could have gone undetected," Horan said. "Due to the measures we have in place, we are able to protect the integrity of our system."

The commission began issuing digital drivers' licenses in January 2004, Horan said.

The new licenses are hard to reproduce, Della Fave said. Since the changeover, authorities are focused not on counterfeiters who used to manufacture fake licenses, but rather on MVC personnel who sometimes provide licenses without proper documentation, Della Fave said.

"Once digital licenses are in a person's possession, it would be difficult to realize it wasn't (legitimately) issued," Della Fave said.

More than 60 MVC employees have been arrested since the 2003 reforms were enacted in an effort to weed out fraud and abuse, Horan said.

The MVC also requires State Police criminal background checks on all new and existing employees, Horan said.

Staff writer James A. Quirk contributed to this story.

More than 60 MVC employees have been arrested since the 2003 reforms were enacted

Any doubt left we're becoming Mexico?

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Details surface on illegal license sales
Home News Tribune Online 08/16/06
ANDREA ALEXANDER
GANNETT NEW JERSEY
A New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission supervisor charged with providing drivers' licenses via a Sayreville man to at least 15 illegal immigrants was suspended without pay yesterday as more details of the transactions that led to three arrests unfolded.

Valerie Materia, 48, of Jackson, second in command at the MVC office in Freehold Township, provided at least 15, and perhaps as many as 50, fake licenses to Elvis Castro, 26, of Winding Wood Drive in Sayreville, New Jersey State Police Capt. Al Della Fave said. Castro's girlfriend Yeni Duarte-Quiroa, 25, of Winding Wood Drive in Sayreville was also arrested.

Castro, a cook in a pizzeria two doors away from the MVC office in the Poet's Square shopping center, acted as a broker, selling the licenses to mostly illegal immigrants.

The pair were introduced at least two years ago by an unidentified co-conspirator who has not been charged, Della Fave said. The first license that authorities were able to confirm changed hands dates back to 2004, Della Fave said.

Castro, who was undocumented himself, charged $2,300 for each license that was delivered, authorities said. He kept $2,000 for himself and paid Materia $300 when she came to the pizzeria to pick up food, Della Fave said. It was unclear where Materia handed off the drivers' licenses, he said.

Materia and Castro found their customers by word of mouth as the phony drivers' license ring grew, Della Fave said.

But the operation came crashing down Friday when Castro took $2,300 from an undercover state trooper in the Poet's Square parking lot in exchange for a fraudulent license, Della Fave said. Materia, Castro and Duarte-Quiroa were arrested following the transaction.

The charges were the result of a six-month investigation, Della Fave said.

A woman who identified herself as the owner of Il Monacone Restaurant and Pizzeria confirmed that Castro worked in the kitchen but would not comment further.

Castro's attorney, Michael A. Grasso, declined to comment yesterday. Duarte-Quiroa's attorney, John Koufos, also declined to comment. Materia could not be reached.

If convicted, Materia would be fired from her $41,000 a year job, said MVC spokesman Dave Weinstein.

The Motor Vehicle Commission has stepped up efforts to enhance security as a result of reforms adopted in 2003. All employees are fingerprinted and subject to State Police background checks, Weinstein said.

"There are always going to be bad apples that slip through," Weinstein said. "But we are very vigilant. We catch it when it happens."

Police were able to confirm 15 cases, but believe more than 50 fraudulent licenses may have been issued, Della Fave said. The investigation is continuing, and others could be charged, he said.

Authorities are searching for anyone who bought the fake digital licenses, anyone who aided and abetted the phony drivers' license ring and anyone who helped make connections between Castro and his customers, Della Fave said.

Materia was charged with 15 counts of official misconduct, pattern to commit official misconduct, tampering with public records, forgery and conspiracy, Della Fave said. She was released on $35,000 bail, he said. Castro has been charged with conspiracy to commit official misconduct, official misconduct and conspiracy with others and is being held at the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, on $100,000 bail, Della Fave said. Duarte-Quiroa, Castro's girlfriend, was charged with conspiracy to tamper with public records and released, Della Fave said.

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MVC suspends fraud suspect

Police search for phony-license buyers
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 08/16/06
BY ANDREA ALEXANDER
FREEHOLD BUREAU

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — A New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission supervisor charged with providing driver's licenses to at least 15 illegal immigrants was suspended without pay Tuesday as more details of the transactions that led to three arrests unfolded.

Valerie Materia, 48, of Jackson, second in command at the MVC office on Thoreau Drive in Freehold Township, provided at least 15, and perhaps as many as 50, fake licenses to Elvis Castro, 26, of Sayreville, State Police Capt. Al Della Fave said.

Castro, a cook in a pizzeria two doors away from the MVC office in the Poet's Square shopping center off Kozloski Road, acted as a broker, selling mostly to illegal immigrants who lack the paperwork needed to obtain licenses legally.

The pair were introduced at least two years ago by an unidentified co-conspirator who has not been charged, Della Fave said. The first license that authorities were able to confirm changed hands dates back to 2004, Della Fave said.

Castro, who was undocumented himself, charged $2,300 for each li-cense that was delivered, authorities said. He kept $2,000 for himself and paid Materia $300 when she came to the pizzeria to pick up food, Della Fave said. It was unclear where Materia handed off the driver's licenses, he said.

Materia and Castro found their customers by word of mouth as the driver's license ring grew, Della Fave said.

But the operation came crashing down Friday when Castro took $2,300 from an undercover state trooper in the shopping center's parking lot in exchange for a fraudulent license, Della Fave said. Materia, Castro and his girlfriend Yeni Duarte-Quiroa, 25, of Sayreville were arrested following the transaction.

The charges were the result of a six-month investigation, Della Fave said.

The investigation is continuing, and others could be charged, he said.

Authorities are searching for anyone who bought the fake digital licenses, anyone who aided and abetted the scheme and anyone who helped make connections between Castro and his customers, Della Fave said.

Co-workers concerned


Materia's co-workers were saddened to learn of the arrest, said Bill Scherer, manager of the Freehold Township MVC office.

"This is upsetting to everyone," Scherer said. "This is a pretty close-knit office."

"Everyone here is concerned for Valerie and the security of our licenses," Scherer said. "The (MVC) has invested a lot of time and money in security. The process has worked. The alleged ring of criminal (activity) was caught and stopped."

A woman who identified herself as the owner of Il Monacone Restaurant and Pizzeria confirmed that Castro worked in the kitchen but would not comment on the record.

Castro's attorney, Michael A. Grasso, declined to comment Tuesday. Duarte-Quiroa's attorney, John Koufos, also declined to comment. Materia could not be reached.

If convicted, Materia would be fired from her $41,000-a-year job, said MVC spokesman Dave Weinstein.

The Motor Vehicle Commission has tightened its security procedures as a result of reforms adopted in 2003. All employees are fingerprinted and subject to State Police background checks, Weinstein said.

"There are always going to be bad apples that slip through," Weinstein said. "But we are very vigilant. We catch it when it happens."

Materia was charged with 15 counts of official misconduct, pattern to commit official misconduct, tampering with public records, forgery and conspiracy, Della Fave said. She was released on $35,000 bail, he said. Castro has been charged with conspiracy to commit official misconduct, official misconduct and conspiracy with others and is being held at the Monmouth County Jail, Freehold Township, in lieu of $100,000 bail, Della Fave said.

Duarte-Quiroa, Castro's girlfriend, was charged with conspiracy to tamper with public records and released, Della Fave said.