Second Case Unsealed Involving Scheme to Sell Driver's Licenses Former DOL Employee Arrested—Defendant Allegedly Sold Identification Documents to Unqualified Applicants

LACY JONES, Jr., a former Department of Licensing (DOL) employee, was arrested this afternoon on a charge of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Production of Identification Documents and two counts of Unlawful Production of an Identification Document. JONES resigned from the Department of Licensing May 12, 2010, following an investigation by the FBI. JONES had been employed at the Department of Licensing Office in Federal Way. JONES made his initial appearance in federal court, and remains detained pending a hearing on Tuesday, June 22, 2010.

According to the complaint, JONES conspired with co-defendant ISRAEL VELASCO DIAZ to provide Washington state driver's licenses and/or Identification cards to applicants who did not meet the residency requirements for the state of Washington. According to the complaint, applicants would contact JONES in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant near the licensing office to make arrangements to obtain the identifying documents. JONES and DIAZ charged as much as $1,500 for the documents. In one instance outlined in the complaint, JONES allegedly told a person working with law enforcement to put some “phony papers” in an envelope and approach his counter station at the DOL office. Using a variety of receipts that did not meet the state requirements, the applicant was able to obtain an identity document from JONES. ISRAEL VELASCO DIAZ is not in custody and is being sought by law enforcement.

Two other defendants also made their initial appearances today on separate but similar charges. Melanie Yoder, a Department of Licensing employee from Bellevue and Rodrigo Moura, a Brazilian immigrant, are charged in a conspiracy to illegally sell identification documents. Both remain detained pending hearings on Monday.

Conspiracy to commit unlawful production of identification documents is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Unlawful production of identification documents is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Norman Barbosa.