HSI Pittsburgh case leads to DMV fraud scheme sentences
MARTINSBURG, W.V. — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) case led to three criminals’ sentencing Nov. 19 today for a West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles fraud scheme.
The three were involved in producing and selling forged state driver’s licenses.
Jesse Antonio Garcia, 28, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He pleaded guilty in July 2014 to aiding and abetting unlawful production of identification document.
Marcos Hernandez Hernandez, 40, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to eight months in prison. He also pleaded guilty in August 2014 to aiding and abetting unlawful production of identification document.
Kermit Miller, 61, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to three years of probation. He pleaded guilty in February 2014 to conspiracy to defraud in connection with identification documents.
The three along with Mexican citizen Garcia "Chicano" Campos, who was convicted last week in the scheme, conspired to obtain genuine identities for undocumented aliens and others in exchange for cash.
The HSI investigation identified Hernandez as a document vendor in Northern Virginia who referred people to obtain West Virginia identities from Miller, who was a DMV employee in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Campos and his son Garcia helped facilitated the scheme through direct contact with Miller.
"No one needs to be reminded why document fraud poses a potential national security threat," said John Kelleghan, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia. "These sentences leave no doubt of the consequences for those who try to exploit our systems. The message is simple. If you commit fraud, you can be sure HSI special agents are aggressively seeking you out."
Campos faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any.
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