Former Maryland MVA employee sentenced to 2 years in federal prison

BALTIMORE — A Maryland man was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to produce and transfer Maryland driver's licenses and identification cards without lawful authority. The sentence is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Warren Hall, 48, of Parkville, Md., a former senior document examiner at the Mondawmin Mall branch of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), was also required to forfeit $40,000.

The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein, District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of ICE HSI in Baltimore; and John Kuo, administrator of the MVA, Investigation and Security Services Division.

"Anyone who obtains a fraudulent government ID may pose a threat to public safety," said Winter. "This type of criminal activity allows dangerous criminals to obscure their identities and cover their tracks. Given the potential security and safety implications – since this type of crime often allows individuals who may not be in this country lawfully to obtain legitimate U.S. identity documents – Homeland Security Investigations, along with our law enforcement partners in Maryland, will continue to aggressively target those participating in or facilitating these types of crimes."

According to his plea agreement, Hall was permitted to issue identification documents, such as Maryland driver's licenses and identification cards to individuals who were born outside the United States.

Adalberto Benito Prins, 49, of Baltimore, acted as a translator for applicants seeking identification documents at the MVA's Mondawmin Mall branch and knew Hall from his work at the MVA. From November 2005 through January 2007, Hall conspired with Prins to unlawfully produce and transfer over 100 Maryland driver's license learner permits, driver's licenses and personal identification cards. Out of country applicants seeking to obtain identification documents traveled to the Mondawmin Mall MVA and met with Hall, who provided them with unlawfully produced identification documents in exchange for money and other valuable considerations. On Feb. 20, 2009, Hall unlawfully produced and transferred a Maryland identification card to an undercover law enforcement officer. Prins is currently a fugitive.

U.S. Attorney Rosenstein thanked ICE HSI and the MVA, Investigation and Security Services Division, for their work in this investigation.

Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Gruber, who prosecuted the case.