Florida law enforcement, ICE arrest 8 in scheme to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants

Florida law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested eight people, including two motor vehicles department employees, in a scheme to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) announced the arrests on Thursday afternoon with Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford, FOX 35 Orlando reported.

The probe was conducted by the state's Bay County Sheriff's Office along with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations and found the DMV employees offered the driver's licenses in exchange for money.

Investigators also discovered that people seeking the licenses were connected through a third-party intermediary. The intermediaries facilitated the transactions, with Bancelie Velazco and Demetrius Smith, II, receiving payments either directly at the DMV or through a cash app.

In addition to the arrests of Velazco and Smith, authorities also arrested Niurbis Rosales, Leonardo Gutierrez, Hung Du, Isbrieta Parra, Zoila Gonzalez-Pena, and Mirna Fernandez. 

The charges include a DMV employee issuing an unlawful driver’s license, official misconduct, and unlawful possession of a driver’s license, according to officials. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are pending.