United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy | U.S. Department of Justice
An indictment was unsealed in Boston, charging five individuals with conspiring to obtain driver's licenses for ineligible applicants, mainly undocumented individuals without legal status in the United States. The accused are Edvan Fernandes Alves De Andrade, Leonel Texeiera De Souza Junior, Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, and Helbert Costa Generoso.
The defendants face charges including conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess identification documents and furnishing a false passport. Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, and Helbert Costa Generoso were arrested and appeared in federal court. Two of them await a detention hearing on December 16, 2024.
The indictment alleges that from November 2020 to September 2024, the defendants conspired to fraudulently procure driver’s licenses for customers residing in states where undocumented individuals were prohibited from obtaining them. This involved securing New York licenses for non-residents and Massachusetts licenses after July 2023. Customers allegedly paid approximately $1,400 each.
In New York, the scheme included bypassing permit tests by using customer photos during online exams and forging driving school certificates. The defendants also allegedly provided fraudulent residency documents at NY DMV locations to secure permits.
For Massachusetts licenses, similar tactics were employed using fake foreign passports as proof of identity at the MA RMV.
Authorities claim over 1,000 fraudulent applications were made with more than 600 successful issuances, generating substantial profits for the conspirators.
The investigation continues. If convicted, the defendants face significant penalties including prison time and fines.
U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy announced the indictment along with Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Michael J. Krol and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector Kelly Larco-Ward. Assistance came from various law enforcement agencies across multiple states.
"The details contained in the charging documents are allegations," emphasized authorities; "the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
