220 Got NJ Driver's Licenses, Permits Illegally, Officials Say

More than 220 people got New Jersey driver's licenses and permits illegally as part of a scheme that helped 10 co-conspirators collect thousands of dollars in payments, authorities allege.

A former New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission clerk was indicted Wednesday, along with nine others, in helping more than 220 people obtain permits and licenses without passing required exams, according to a press release from the Office of Attorney General.

Rodman Lora, 39, of Ridgewood, N.Y. — a former clerk at the Lodi MVC Agency — allegedly altered MVC driver records between 2014 and 2016, enabling individuals to obtain various permits and licenses without having followed the law, according to the release.

In return, Lora allegedly received cash payments that averaged more than $700 per license or permit. The Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau on Wednesday obtained a state grand jury indictment charging Lora with the following crimes:

• Official Misconduct (2nd degree),
• Pattern of Official Misconduct (2nd degree),
• Conspiracy (2nd degree),
• Computer Criminal Activity (2nd degree), and
• Tampering with Public Records or Information (3rd degree).

The official misconduct and pattern of official misconduct charges against Lora carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison, with a mandatory minimum period of five years of parole ineligibility, according to the release.

The nine co-defendants indicted with Lora include four customers of the illegal scheme, three “runners” whom Lora allegedly used to recruit customers, and two co-conspirators who worked at the Lodi MVC Agency, one as an MVC clerk and the second as a security guard for a private security firm contracted by the MVC, according to the release.

Each of those defendants is charged with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree computer criminal activity and third-degree tampering with public records or information.

They include:

• Masood Ahmadi, 54, of Lake Hiawatha, the owner of Ideal Transportation, a school bus company that holds busing contracts with several schools and school districts in northern New Jersey. He allegedly recruited customers seeking commercial driver’s licenses into the scheme. Most were relatives of his or were seeking employment as bus drivers with Ideal Transportation.
• Luis Tiburcio, 46, of Passaic, who was considered a "runner."
• Carlos Vicuna, 36, of Elizabeth, also considered a "runner."
• Rosa Vargas, 51, of Lodi, an MVC clerk who allegedly obtained a motorcycle permit without taking the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for her.
• Mark Hingston, 55, of Toms River, a private security guard at the Lodi MVC Agency who allegedly obtained a commercial driver’s permit and license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him.
• Wander Jimenez-Villanueva, 25, of Bogota who allegedly obtained a Class D driver’s license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him. Jimenez-Villanueva previously had failed the exam on four occasions.
• Angel Nunez-Lora, 27, of Parlin who allegedly obtained a commercial driver’s license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him. Nunez-Lora previously had failed the exam on one occasion.
• Jose Lora, 44, of Newark, Rodman Lora’s brother, who allegedly obtained a commercial driver’s license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him.
• Wilge Rojas, 55, of Clifton, who allegedly obtained a commercial driver’s license without passing the required written exam. Lora allegedly entered a passing written exam score for him. Rojas previously had failed the exam on one occasion.

The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Robert Billmeier in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Bergen County, where the defendants will be ordered to appear in court for arraignment on the charges at a later date.

Attorney General Porrino and Director Honig noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has a toll-free tip line 866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. The public can also log on to the Division of Criminal Justice webpage at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.

MVC photo