An indictment has been unsealed in Boston, charging five individuals with conspiring to obtain driver's licenses for undocumented individuals residing in the United States. The defendants are accused of engaging in a multi-state and transnational conspiracy.
The indicted individuals include Edvan Fernandes Alves De Andrade, 34, Leonel Texeiera De Souza Junior, 38, Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, 26, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, 28, and Helbert Costa Generoso, 39. They face charges including conspiracy to unlawfully produce identification documents and furnishing false passports.
Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, and Helbert Costa Generoso have been arrested and appeared in federal court in Worcester. Detention hearings are scheduled for December 16.
The indictment alleges that from November 2020 to September 2024, the defendants conspired to fraudulently procure driver’s licenses for customers who were not eligible due to their residency status. This included obtaining New York driver’s licenses for Massachusetts residents before July 2023 when Massachusetts changed its laws regarding undocumented residents.
To circumvent legal requirements such as passing written tests and providing proof of residence in New York or Massachusetts, the defendants allegedly used fraudulent methods. These included taking photos of customers pretending to take online tests and creating fake driver's education certificates.
The scheme reportedly involved transporting customers from Massachusetts to New York DMV locations with fraudulent documents claiming New York residency. Licenses obtained through these means were then mailed to addresses controlled by the defendants.
It is alleged that over 1,000 applications were made fraudulently resulting in more than 600 licenses being issued. The operation generated hundreds of thousands of dollars according to authorities.
United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy emphasized that these charges carry significant penalties including potential prison time and fines. The investigation continues with contributions from multiple law enforcement agencies across different states.
"The details contained in the charging documents are allegations," it was stated by officials involved in the case announcement. "The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."