Out-of-state untested, unqualified illegal immigrants bought CDL and driving licenses for cash in Florida: “We are going to find you”
Florida – An undercover investigation in Florida has uncovered a scheme involving Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) workers and a few other people who are accused of selling driver’s licenses, including commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), to people who are living in the US illegally. Authorities claim that the criminal group was behind the issuance of nearly 1,000 fake licenses, which put untrained drivers on Florida’s highways and possibly even farther away.
Eight people were arrested by state law enforcement personnel, including two DMV employees who worked at a Bay County facility in the Panhandle. Officials said that the employees sold normal driver’s licenses and CDLs for cash, which let hundreds of undocumented immigrants drive vehicles, including big commercial trucks, without having to go through the appropriate training or testing.
The tax collector’s office workers first uncovered the fraud when they saw that one employee performed a lot more road tests than usual. Most DMV employees do about 20 to 25 tests a month, but one worker did 295 in one month. This sparked immediate red lights, which led to further investigation and the involvement of state investigators.
Surveillance and internal audits rapidly showed a pattern. People came from as far away as hundreds of miles to find the employees who were involved. Investigators claim the business wasn’t just limited to a small group; other people were actively promoting the illegal services and sending clients to them, making a network across the state.
Among those arrested were Bancelie Velazco, Demetrius Smith II, Niurbis Rosales, Leonardo Gutierrez, Hung Du, Isbrieta Parra, Zoila Gonzalez-Pena, and Mirna Fernandez. The charges range from official misconduct to unlawful possession and issuance of driver’s licenses.
Sheriff Tommy Ford expressed serious concern over the risks posed by unqualified drivers on Florida’s roads, especially those holding commercial licenses.
“Let me be clear, that putting untested, unqualified drivers, especially those with commercial licenses on our roads is an unacceptable risk to every family in this state,” Ford said at a press briefing.
The issue is especially worrying as the number of CDL holders among the group could enable individuals to drive large trucks and buses without ever proving their ability to do so safely.
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Attorney General James Uthmeier spoke out forcefully, highlighting the broader implications of the fraud and promising continued enforcement efforts.
“Florida’s Sheriffs are on the front lines of our state’s fight against illegal immigration, and Sheriff Ford is rooting out the corruption they bring into our state,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday. “My warning to any illegal alien coming to Florida to commit further crimes: we are going to find you, hold you accountable, and then send you back to where you came from.”
Reports say that in 2024, Florida gave out more than 24,000 CDLs to U.S. citizens and more than 5,600 to those who weren’t citizens. This shows how big the commercial licensing process is in the state. Prosecutors believe this fraud ring was responsible for getting non-citizens, many of whom were undocumented, into the system without going through the proper checks.
Authorities also say that the licenses were utilized in more than just Florida. Some have already been found in other states, where they are said to have been utilized in human trafficking operations and in sectors that need cheap workers. The finding comes at a time when there have been more incidents involving commercial vehicles, which has raised concerns that lax enforcement and illegal employment practices may be making roadways unsafe.
The investigation is ongoing, and officials warn that more arrests may be likely as they try to figure out how big the network is and how many licenses were issued improperly.
