Former Employee of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge Relating to a Scheme to Provide Fraudulent Maryland Driver’s Licenses to Applicants Who Paid a Fee

Greenbelt, Maryland – Marion Rose Payne, age 55, of Harwood, Maryland, pleaded responsible at this time to conspiracy to supply and switch identification paperwork with out lawful authority, particularly, Maryland driver’s licenses. 

The responsible plea was introduced by United States Legal professional for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Particular Agent in Cost James R. Mancuso of Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.

In accordance with her plea settlement, from not less than July 2015 via March 2016, Payne and Co-Conspirator 2 have been each workers of the Maryland Motor Automobile Administration (MVA) and labored within the Largo, Maryland department workplace.  Payne’s duties on the MVA included the issuance of Maryland driver’s licenses. 

As detailed in her plea settlement, Payne and Co-conspirator 2 conspired with Warner Antonio Portillo to supply and switch Maryland driver’s licenses with out lawful authority.  Particularly, Portillo and others met with potential Maryland driver’s license candidates who have been prepared to pay cash to acquire a driver’s license illegally, usually as a result of the candidates have been aliens with out authorized standing in the USA or have been in any other case unable to acquire a lawfully issued driver’s license.  The candidates paid Portillo and others between $800 and $5,000 in money for every fraudulently issued Maryland driver’s license.

Portillo or the candidates gave Payne and/or Co-Conspirator 2 the names, addresses, and different data that candidates wished to look on their Maryland driver’s licenses.  Portillo offered the candidates and Payne and/or Co-Conspirator 2 with fraudulent paperwork crucial to acquire a Maryland driver’s license, together with proof of fee of taxes, proof of Maryland residence, a legitimate license quantity from Motor Automobile Departments in different states, and an identification doc.  Portillo and others assisted the candidates to journey to the Largo department of the MVA, and directed the candidates to Payne’s or Co-Conspirator 2’s workstation, the place candidates obtained Maryland driver’s licenses produced by Payne or Co-Conspirator 2 with out lawful authority.  Payne knew that the paperwork utilized in assist of the driving force’s licenses have been fraudulent.

For instance, on January 6, 2016, January 12, 2016, and February 11, 2016, Payne and Portillo met within the car parking zone of the MVA Largo Department.  After every assembly Payne produced six, eight, and 7 fraudulent driver’s licenses, respectively.  Throughout the conspiracy, the paperwork offered to acquire the fraudulent Maryland driver’s licenses included not less than 4 Virginia DMV licenses and a financial institution assertion belonging to actual those who have been used a number of instances in the course of the conspiracy.  The conspiracy resulted within the illegal manufacturing and switch of not less than 276 Maryland driver’s licenses.  In alternate for the improperly issued driver’s licenses, Portillo paid Payne not less than $25,000 in money and items.

Payne faces a most sentence of 15 years in jail for the conspiracy.  As a part of her plea settlement, Payne may also be required to pay a cash judgment of not less than $25,000, which constitutes belongings derived from or obtained by Payne because of the conspiracy.  U.S. District Choose Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

Warner Antonio Portillo, age 36, of Manassas, Virginia, beforehand pleaded responsible to his position within the conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.

United States Legal professional Erek L. Barron recommended HSI for its work within the investigation and thanked the Maryland Motor Automobile Administration Investigation and Safety Providers for its help.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Legal professional Kelly O. Hayes and Particular Assistant U.S. Legal professional Brian Mund, who’re prosecuting the case.

For extra data on the Maryland U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, its priorities, and assets obtainable to assist the group, please go to www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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