WESTCHESTER---Former Pace University student William Gerhard of Yorktown has been sentenced to five years probation and 100 hours of community service on his guilty plea to one count of second degree forgery, a class D felony.

Gerhard's arrest was the result of an interagency crackdown on the manufacture and distribution of phony driver's licenses. The three month joint investigation was conducted by members of the Briarcliff Manor Police Department, the Mt. Pleasant Police Department, the Pleasantville Police Department, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as investigators from the Westchester County District Attorney's office.

Gerhard, 20, who resided at Dow Hall in Briarcliff Manor, made and sold high quality fake New Jersey driver's licenses out of his dorm room. The fake licenses were sold to students principally so they could unlawfully engage in underage drinking. The legal drinking age in New York State is 21.

A search warrant was executed on the room resulting in the seizure of a computer used to create the phony licenses.

Another former Pace University student, Edward Henselder, 21, of Melville, Long Island, pleaded guilty in November, 2006, also to one count of second degree forgery will be sentenced in March 21.

Henselder, who also resided at Dow Hall in Briarcliff Manor, took part in the making and selling of the high quality fake New Jersey driver's licenses.
3-15-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette