Originally Posted - July 28, 2006

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MIAMI---A 17-year veteran of the Florida Division of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has pleaded guilty to conspiring to unlawfully produce and transfer Florida drivers' and commercial drivers' licenses.

Marta Carina Pinto of Miami faces a maximum statutory sentence of 15 years in prison when sentenced on Oct. 4.

Federal prosecutors said that Pinto used her position as a drivers' license examiner with DHSMV, the state agency responsible for the issuance of driver's licenses, to fraudulently process approximately 80 to 100 drivers' licenses and commercial drivers' licenses on behalf of individuals who were not lawfully entitled to such licenses, because they were illegally in the United States. Pinto fraudulently processed the drivers' license information by designating United States citizenship status for individuals she believed were illegal aliens. Pinto was paid approximately $700 to $1,000 for each license she fraudulently produced. 7-29-06

© 2006 North Country Gazette