Trio Charged In Conspiracy To Illegally Sell Authentic Driver's Licenses To Undocumented Individuals

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
9 June 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHILADELPHIA - An indictment was filed today charging three people in a conspiracy to sell illegally obtained driver’s licenses to undocumented aliens, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Jose Altagracia Morales Santiago, 57, of Philadelphia, PA, Jose Jhonkellyn Castillo-Henriquez, 28, of New York, NY, and Hiram Mojica, 49, of Philadelphia, PA, are each charged with one count of conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and producing an identification document.

According to the indictment, between February and May of 2016, the defendants obtained the identifying information of Puerto Rican citizens, which they then sold to undocumented aliens. The defendants allegedly obtained through unlawful means both learner’s permits and driver’s licenses from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) locations in and around Philadelphia, which defendants Morales Santiago and Castillo-Hernandez sold to undocumented aliens. It is further alleged that defendant Morales Santiago paid individuals to take the written knowledge test portion of the driving test using Puerto Rican identities, fraudulent utility bills, and fraudulent medical reports, all of which defendant Morales Santiago provided. Defendant Mojica allegedly instructed undocumented aliens how to use and drive an automobile, provided undocumented aliens with a car to use during driving tests, drove undocumented aliens to DMVs located in and around Philadelphia, chaperoned undocumented aliens through the DMV procedures, and directed undocumented aliens to falsify documentation supporting their driver’s license applications

If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of two years in prison with a statutory maximum sentence of 22 years, a possible fine, a period of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment. The indictment also contains a notice of forfeiture.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Brenner.

An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Date	Document Name & Details	Documents
8 June 2016 file creation date	United States of America v. Jose Altragracia Morales Santiago, Jose Jhonkellyn Castillo-Henriquez, and Hiram Mojica Indictment United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania	PDF - 2.5MB - 12 pages