Customers arrested for using fraudulent docments

One customer presented a South Carolina driver’s license as a form of identification when he applied for a New Jersey driver’s license. After inspecting the South Carolina driver’s license, a DMV clerk determined it was fraudulent. The clerk notified DMV agent Caesar Clay, a retired State Police lieutenant, who called police. Officers of the Newark Police Department’s South District arrested the suspect.

The other suspect was arrested after a clerk discovered that the birth certificate that he presented was tampered. The suspect was applying for a non-driver identification card.

Both incidents are currently under investigation by Newark police.

DMV Director Diane Legreide said she hopes that the appointment of Clay, a 25-year veteran of the State Police, to head the Newark agency will send a message that DMV is serious about addressing the problems of fraud and corruption. On Friday, Legreide terminated the former agent, along with all 10 employees, because of concerns that Newark was becoming a prime place to fraudulently obtain driver’s licenses and other forms of identification.

Last month, State Police detectives arrested two North Jersey residents at the Newark agency for driver license fraud and identity theft. Detectives confiscated numerous New Jersey Driver License applications, examination permits, numerous passports, counterfeit birth certificates, counterfeit INS naturalization certificates and Social Security cards.

“To move forward with our plans to improve security and customer service, we believe it’s best to start with a new team in place in Newark,” Legreide said. “The incidents in Newark have alarmed us. Sweeping changes were desperately needed.”

In the past seven months, nearly 100 people – including 14 DMV employees - have been arrested for using fraudulent documents to obtain New Jersey driver’s licenses and state identification cards at DMV agencies.