March 12, 2007

Washington driver license scheme gets state employee prison time
ICE investigation finds licenses given to Brazilian nationals who failed driver test

SEATTLE – An employee of the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) was sentenced in federal court today to a year plus one day in prison for selling drivers licenses to more than 200 illegal aliens who had not passed the required driver license test.

An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that Zagari Shunta Moore, 37, of Federal Way, Washington, was part of a four-person, transcontinental ring that recruited Brazilian nationals living in the Boston area to fly to Seattle to get Washington drivers licenses.

According to court documents, Moore’s role in the scheme was to alter computer records of test scores earned by driver license applicants.  He was then paid $250 to provide a license even though that individual had not passed the driving test.  The Brazilians, many of whom had overstayed their visas, would pay as much as $2,000 to obtain a driver license.

“This type of criminal activity is very concerning to ICE because it allows individuals who are unlawfully in the United States to obtain an identity document without verification of their true identify,” said Mike McCool, deputy special agent in charge of ICE’s Office of Investigations in Seattle.  “ICE is committed to detecting, investigating and dismantling this type of activity.”

The DOL has checked every license issued by Moore over a nine-month period and has cancelled a total of 238 drivers licenses. 

Three of Moore’s co-conspirators in this case have pleaded guilty.  Two have received prison sentences and the third is on probation.  ICE worked with the Washington Department of Licensing in this investigation.

-- ICE --