RMV Clerks' Fake ID Scam Busted: DOJ

BOSTON, MA — Four RMV clerks and two others were arrested today in connection with a scheme to make false ids through the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Some of the false identities and addresses were used to register to vote in Boston, the US Attorney's office announced today.

In October 2015, the Massachusetts State Police received an anonymous letter alleging that a corrupt RMV employee was providing stolen identifications and drivers’ licenses to people looking for fake ids. An investigation revealed that several Haymarket RMV clerks were allegedly working with Bivian Yohanny Brea, 41, of Boston who acted as the document vendor, and "Flako," (whose real name is not known) as the document dealer, to provide licenses and identification cards to people illegally in the country in exchange for money.

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Evelyn Medina, 56, of Boston; Annette Gracia, 37, of Boston; Kimberly Jordan, 33, of Randolph; David Brimage, 46, of Boston; Bivian Yohanny Brea, 41, of Boston; and John Doe, a/k/a Flako, a/k/a Miguel, a/k/a Pablo D. Gonzalez Lopez, a/k/a Rafael R. Bonano, 32, whose identity and nationality has yet to be determined, were charged Wednesday in federal court in Boston with aggravated identity theft. The defendants are expected to appear in federal court Wednesday.

At the time of their arrest, Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and Brimage were employed as clerks at the Haymarket Registry of Motor Vehicles.

The scheme involved several steps. First, it is alleged that Flako, the document dealer, sold a Puerto Rican birth certificate and U.S. Social Security card to Brea, the document vendor, for approximately $900. Brea, in turn, sold the stolen identities for over $2,000 to clients seeking legitimate identities in Massachusetts. These clients included illegal aliens, individuals who were previously deported, and an individual who admitted to previously facing drug charges.

After Flako sold Brea the false identification papers, Brea used the counterfeit documents and false identities and addresses to fraudulently register the clients to vote in the City of Boston. Then, Brea and the client brought the stolen identities to the Haymarket RMV, where Medina, Gracia, Jordan, and/or Brimage would accept cash to illegally issue authentic RMV documents, including Massachusetts licenses and ID cards. The clerks also accepted cash to use the RMV’s system to run queries, including Social Security number audits, to confirm that the identities the clients were stealing actually belonged to verifiable individuals.

The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory minimum of two years in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation into the corruption and identity theft scheme is ongoing, according to the Attorney's office, which is working with Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Massachusetts State Police, and the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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